-~A
6}
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
lA
t
COLLECTIONS
HANDBOOK
YAO LANGUAGE
Bt EDWARD STEERE, LL.D.
CHAPLAIN TO BISHOP TOZEE.
LONDON:
SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE :
SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORIES:
77> GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS;
4, ROYAL EXCHANGE; 48, PICCADILLY;
AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.
1871.
LONDON :
GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS..
ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.
PL
2802
SS>lc
INTRODUCTION.
The Yao language is at first particularly puzzling to
a foreigner on account of the rapid and even pro-
nunciation and the extraordinary number of euphonic
changes. All the syllables of a word are uttered
with as nearly as possible the same degree of accent,
except perhaps that the last syllable but one is a
little louder than the last, and that the mere difficulty
of enunciation gives a slight extra length to a syllable
followed by a double consonant. The words of a
sentence are run together so as not to be easily
separated. The letter u and the vowels cause many
euphonic changes, and the remarkable forms of the
past tense of the verb are exceedingly baffling. Thus
ambele means he gave me, and it is formed from knpa,
to give to, of which it has not retained a single letter.
It is formed of «-, the sign of the third person, a- the
sign of the objective first person (me), and -peU-, the
past tense of -pa. From kulvya, to" bewitch, is made
for he will bewitch vie, tandoje, being by construction,
ti-a-n-loge. The -i- is swallowed up by the -a- which
follows it, the -n- changes the -/- into -d-, and the
change of the final -a into -e compels the change of
a -1
1217007
IV INTRODUCTION.
the hard -g- sound into that of an English -/-. The
rules for these changes will be found in the alphabet,
and numerous examples occur in the section on verbs.
It is scarcely possible to construct a sentence which
shall not contain two or three euphonic changes,
more or less baffling to any but a native. Another
puzzling usage is that of adding -je to verbs and -jpe
to other words; they are generally untranslatable,
but serve to define the ideas better, — all the people, is
wandu wose, but a Yao will almost always say wandu
wosejje, as though we should say, just every one of
them. Kuchita is to wish, and for " I wished " one
hears generally njiteje. The -j- is the -di- as modi-
fied by the n-} which is the sign of the first person,
and the final syllable is a mere enclitic conveying
something of the effect of I wished, yes I did. All
these euphonic changes and light enclitics tend to
facilitate and smooth the pronunciation, and do in
fact give a very singular effect to the general sound
of the spoken language.
The Yaos inhabit the country on the east side of
the Lake Nyassa, which is generally marked in our
maps with their name according to the Portuguese
mode of spelling as Hiau or Wahiau. They have
been a very numerous tribe, and used to supply a
large part of the slaves brought down to Zanzibar; of
late years, however, their country has been ravaged
by the Maviti, and all trade for the time prevented.
It is said that only one of their great chiefs suc-
ceeded in holding his own against the invaders. One
INTRODUCTION. V
could not, indeed, expect much courage from a people
who enjoy the proverb —
Kuaja woga Jcwenda chiseko,
Kuaja chisongolo Jcwenda cliililo.
Whoso is fearful goes to laughing.
Whoso is bold goes to weeping.
The Yaos are one of the bow and arrow tribes, who
are invariably despised by the tribes that use spears
and shields, as the Maviti (who are said to be Zulus)
always do.
A number of words in the Yao language were
published by Dr. Krapf, in his " Vocabulary of Six
African Languages." The Yao boys who were in
Bishop Tozer's school when I wras in Zanzibar re-
cognized many, though by no means all of them.
Their recollections were too imperfect and their shy-
ness too great to allow me to learn very much from
them. It is very remarkable that there should be
thousands of Yaos in Zanzibar, and yet that it should
be difficult to find a competent teacher. The reason
lies partly in the shame which all Africans from the
inland seem to feel about their own origin. They
will profess the most utter forgetfulness of every
thing connected with their old homes and language,
merely in order to avoid being questioned about
them. Another reason is that in proportion as they
learn Swahili they forget Yao, and for the most part
speak neither language at all correctly. I began
with the help of a young slave, who gave me a great
VI INTRODUCTION.
many words and grammatical forms, but who mixed
up the Yao with much that really belonged to the
Nyassa language. One of my Arab friends intro-
duced me to a man of some importance from Kilwa,
who with the help of his slaves gave me some further
information. I then noticed the curious fact that
Arabs and men of Arab origin put an aspirate between
consecutive vowels, though I never heard a native
use any aspirate either there or elsewhere. I found
at last a really good teacher in a man called by the
very common name of Mabruki. I heard afterwards
that his original name was Mpanda. He had been a
slave employed by his master in trading journeys to
and from his own tribe. His master had by his will
given him his freedom, and he then got a living by
selling small ventures in one of the markets in
Zanzibar. It is only men employed as he had been,
and who besides have a natural aptitude for language,
who really speak and understand both Yao and Swa-
hili, and can adecpuately explain one language in the
other. I then made out a vocabulary containing all
Dr. Krapf s words and all those I had collected from
my teachers and other sources, and went carefully
through it with Mabruki, testing my grammar by
illustrations as I went along. I now publish the
result ; and it will be clear enough to the reader that
I must have had a good teacher to enable me to find
my way among such a tangle of idioms, inflexions,
and euphonic changes. It has been to me a work of
singular interest; and I have a good hope that this
INTRODUCTION. y£j
great tribe, which now holds the country in which
Bishop Mackenzie first tried to plant our Central
African Mission, may yet in its own tongue praise and
glorify the great God and our Redeemer.
EDWARD STEERE.
Little Steeping,
Michaelmas, 1871.
COLLECTIONS,
8,'c.
THE ALPHABET.
As a general rule the vowels are intended to be
pronounced as in Italian, and the consonants as in
English.
A is pronounced like the a in father. When in compo-
sition followed by a, it coalesces with it into a
single sound ; when followed by e or ?', it forms
with it the sound of e ; when followed by v, the
two vowels unite, and form the sound of o.
B as in English. When n has to be prefixed to b, p,
or w, the two letters become mb.
C is used only in the compound eft, which is pro-
nounced as in English, or as c before ? or e in
Italian. The same root letter is pronounced (as
in Italian) as a h before a, o, or u, and as the
English ch before e or i. It may very probably
be found best to denote both these sounds by c ;
but they are represented here by k and c ft in order
to avoid mistakes in pronunciation. When n is
prefixed to eft they become nj.
1) as in English. When n is prefixed to I or t, the
two letters become nd. Li and di seem to be
often treated as identical, ty / ^
2 THE ALPHABET.
E is pronounced like at in chair. Where in compo-
sition a is followed by e or i} the two vowels
unite, and are pronounced e. K and g become
eh andy when followed by e.
G is always to be pronounced hard as in gale. The
same root letter which is here written g and pro-
nounced hard before a, o, and u, is written j, and
has the sound of a soft^ before e and i. The rules
for c and g being the same as in Italian, it may
perhaps ultimately be found best to write them
as in that language, inserting an i wherever
they ought to have a soft sound before a, o, or
v ; and inserting an h where they ought to have
a hard sound before e or i.
11 as an aspirate is not used by the Yaos themselves,
and is only employed here in expressing the sound
of the English eh. Arabs when they speak the
Yao language always insert an h between two
consecutive vowels.
/ is pronounced like ee in keep. When in composition
i is made to follow a, the two vowels unite, and
are pronounced e. I standing alone before a
vowel becomes y. K and g become eh and j
before i.
•f as in English, the Italian gi. When n is prefixed
to j, the two letters become ny. G becomes j
when followed by e or ?'. Ch becomes j when
preceded by n.
K as in English. K becomes ch when followed by e
or i. When n is prefixed to /•, the two letters
become vg.
L as in English, or like an untrilled English r. When
THE ALPHABET. ■ )
n is prefixed to I, the two letters become nd3 or
else the I is omitted altogether.
M as in English. M before any consonant except
b stands for mu, and has a semivowel sound, as
though preceded by a suppressed u. M before b
is generally a modified n. Mb may stand for
nb, nj>, or nw. Where u has to be prefixed to m,
the n is not heard at all.
N as in English. N is used as a prefix in the for-
mation of nouns, and as the sign of the first
person in the conjugation of verbs. When so
used it affects or is affected by most of the
other consonants.
nb becomes rub. nn becomes u.
nek „ nj. np )} mb.
/{/' „ ny. ns „ s.
nk „ ng. nt „ nd.
nl „ nd or u. mo ,, u.
dm, „ m. nw }) mb.
Thus where we find
nd it may stand for nd, nl, or nt.
ng „ „ ng or nk.
nj „ „ nj or nek.
it „ „ n or nl.
ni, s, and u may have a suppressed n as a prefix.
There are two compound consonants in which //.
occurs : —
1. JVj/, which is the Spanish ft, the French and
Italian gn, and the Portuguese nh. It is a
little thicker and more nasal than the ni in
Spaniard.
B l
4 THE ALPHABET.
2. Kg' pronounced like the English ng's in long-
ing", both sounds are heard, but neither are
carried on to the following vowel as is done
where an n is merely prefixed to a g.
0 is pronounced like oa in broad. Where o is in com-
position followed by e or i, the' two letters become
we. An o sound arises from the coalition of a
and u when brought together in composition.
P as in English. When n is prefixed to p, the two
letters become mb.
Q. The sound of the English Qu is expressed by Kw.
B. There is no strong r in Yao. A sound like that
of the indistinct English ;• may be given to the
letter I. It is however safer for a foreigner always
to pronounce it as an I.
S as in sun, never as in rise. There is no sound in Yao
like that of the English z, or the German s.
Where n has to be prefixed to s, the s remains
unchanged, and the u is dropped,
^as in English. Where n is prefixed to t, the two
letters become nd.
U is pronounced like oo in stool. Where u is followed
by e or i, the two letters become wi. Where a is
prefixed to u, the two letters coalesce into the
sound of o. Where u has to be prefixed to tt, the u
disappears.
W as in English, it is a consonantal u. Where n is
prefixed to w, the two letters become mb. We may
stand for oe or ol j wi may stand for ue or ui.
Y as the English consonant, it is a consonantal /.
Where n is prefixed toy, the two letters become ny.
SUBSTANTIVES.
Yao nouns have two numbers, singular and plural,
which are distinguished by their initial letters. Upon
the form of the substantives depend the forms of the
adjectives, pronouns, and verbs governed by them. Yao
substantives may be conveniently divided into nine
classes, according to their initial letters, and the
changes which they undergo in forming their plurals.
I. Words beginning with m, mu, or miv, being the
names of living creatures. These become plural by
changing m, mu, or mw, into wa, or w :
Mundujumo, one person; ivandu, wa ivajutji, many
people.
The singular prefix is generally m, with an indis-
tinct semivowel sound, before a consonant; and mw
before a vowel. The plural prefix is wa before a con-
sonant, and w before a vowel. In words beginning
with mb, the m is generally a modified n, and the
word belongs to the third class.
II. Words beginning with m, mil, or mw, which are
not the names of living creatures. These are made
plural by changing m, mu, or mm, into mi :
Mtela u mo, one tree; mitelaja mijinji, many trees.
III. Words which do not change to form the
plural. They begin with n before a consonant ; or ng
b 3
6 SUBSTANTIVES.
before a vowel. As n becomes m when prefixed to b,
p, or w, roots beginning1 with those letters make
nouns of this class beginning* with mb. Again as n
disappears before s and u, roots beginning with those
letters make nouns of this class without any apparent
change :
Nyumbajimo, one house; nyumba sya nyinji, many
houses.
JIbusijimo, one goat; mbusi syanyinji, many goats.
IV. Words beginning with ch or chi ; these become
plural by changing ch into y, and chi into i. Ch is
used before a vowel; chi before a consonant :
Chimin chimo, one thing; indu ya ijinji, many things.
V. Words beginning with li ; these become plural
by changing li into ma :
Liwago limo, one axe ; maioago ga maj'mji, many axes.
When anything is to be spoken of as particularly
large, it is brought into this class by substituting li
and wa, for its ordinary singular and plural prefixes :
Chisegwe, a noise ; lisegwe, a great noise.
VI. Words beginning with In ; these are made
plural by changing In into n before a consonant; or
ny before a vowel. The letter n changes and is changed
as described under that letter in the alphabet :
Lusaso litmo, one piece of firewood ; saso sya ny'mji,
much firewood.
Lupeta lumo, one sifting basket; mbeta sya nyinji,
many sifting baskets.
VII. Words beginning with ha ; these make their
SUBSTANTIVES. 7
plural by changing ha into tu ; the a of the singular
prefix disappears before a vowel; and the u of the
plural prefix becomes w :
Kanaclie hamo, one child; twanache twa tujinji,
many children.
Words are made diminutives by being brought into
this class :
Liwago, an axe ; hawago, a very small axe.
VIII. The one word pandu, place or places :
Pandu pamo : one place ; pandu pa pajinji, many
places.
[X. The infinitives of verbs used as substantives :
they all begin with hi :
Kuinva, dying; hunenyela, loving; huiwa, stealing.
The names of persons treated with respect have a
prefixed in the singular; and acka in the plural.
These prefixes seem to be substituted for m and tea,
as the names are treated as of the first class :
Achimwene, a chief ; achachimwene, chiefs.
Ac/ia may be used in the singular where very great
respect is intended. An important chief named
Maiaha is also spoken of as Achamataka.
There is no distinction between the subjective and
objective eases of nouns.
The possessive case is represented by the use of the
variable particle -a, which is placed after the thing
possessed, and before the possessor, like the English
preposition of, which is represented by it. The initial
letter varies according to the class of the thing pos-
5 SUBSTANTIVES.
sessed. This form can be used in all cases in which
the English preposition of can be used, and not only
in the true possessive case. The same particle is used
to connect an adjective with its substantive, and the
proper forms for each class will be found in the
examples at the end of this section :
Nyumba ya achimwene, the chief's house; liwago
lia achimwene, the chief's axe ; nyumba ya
maganga, a house of stone.
Locality is expressed by the use of three prefixes : —
1. Mw , denoting within, to or from within. 2. Pa,
denoting- at, near, before. 3. Ku, denoting- motion
to, or at (of a place far off) .
Muuyumba, in the house ; panyumha, at the house ;
kunyumba, to the house.
The u of these prefixes becomes w before a vowel ;
the I of the singular prefix li is dropped after the
locative prefixes :
Litumbi, a hill; mwitumbi, in the hill; petumbi
[pa-ilumbi], at the hill; kwitumbi, to the hill.
The following examples will show the effect of the
class of the noun upon the adjectives^ pronouns, and
verbs, as well as upon the variable particle or pre-
position -a. It is the sentence, Our beautiful — ■■ — is
in sight, we love it. The blank being filled up with
the words mwanache, child ; mtela, tree ; nyumba,
house; chilambo, land; litumbi, hill; lulenje, an en-
closure; kapawala, gazelle ; and pandu, place ; with
their respective plurals.
SUBSTANTIVES. 9
1. Mwanache juetu jua mkoto akuonekana, tu-
ku'mnenyela.
Wanache wetu wa wakoto wakuonekana, tu-
kuwanenyela.
2. Mtela wetu wa ukoto ukuonekana, tukuune-
nyela.
Mitela jetu ja mikoto jikuonekana, tukujine-
uyela.
3. Nyumba jetu ja ngoto jikuonekana, tukuji-
neuyela.
Nyumba syetu sya ngoto sikuonekana, tuku-
sinenyela.
4. Chilambo chetu cha eliikoto cliikuonekana,
tukuchinenyela.
Ilambo yetu ya ikoto ikuonekana, tukuine-
nyela.
5. Litumbi lietu lia likoto likuonekaua, tukuli-
nenyela.
Matumbi getu ga makoto gakuonekana, tuku-
ganenyela.
6. Lutenje luetu lua lukoto lukuonekana, tu-
kulunenyela.
Ndenje sietu sya ngoto sikuonekana, tukusi-
nenyela.
7. Kapawala ketu ka kakoto kakuonekana, tu-
kukauenyela.
Tupawala twetu twa tukoto tukuonekana, tu-
kutunenyela.
8. Pandu petu pa pakoto pakuonekana, tuku-
panenyela.
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
Accusation, magambo.
Action, Usengo, pi. masengo.
Adultery, chikululu.
Advice, mtemela, pi. mitemela.
Adze, Ikvago lia kusepela.
Agreement, malangano ; agree-
ing, masiowekano.
Air, mbepo.
Aloe, lichongive.
Ancestors, achambuje.
Ancle — bone, chisukusuku ;
— joint, mbindi.
Anger, litumbilo.
Anguru, Wamangulu, the peo-
ple living on the borders of
the Nj'assa tribe.
Animal, nyama.
Anklets, likaya, pi. makaya.
Answer, masalilo.
Antelope, mbawala, pi. waba-
wala.
Anthill, lisugulu, pi. masugu-
lu ; (white ants), chikula,
pi. ikula.
Ants, black, lipipi, pi. mapipx ' ;
brown, salawe ; reddish-
yellow, mbamba ; white,
ucheche; in the flying stage,
mgumbi.
Anvil, lipulawe, pi. mapula-
we.
Arabic, Chibulusi.
Arm, mkono, pi. mikono.
Armpit, ngwapa.
Arrow, mp>amba,\A. mipamba;
a kind used in shooting
birds, mkwala.
Ashes, liu.
Aunt, Usangasi ; paternal,
alumba iva atati; maternal,
anlao wa nandi.
Authority, mac/iili.
Avarice, kusuka.
Axe, liwago, pi. mawago ;
small, kaioago, pi. tuicago.
Baby, kanache, pi. ticanaehe ;
mwanache juate pyuu ;
kanache kate pyuu.
Back, mgongo, pi. migongo.
Bag (generally of skins),
msaku, pi. misaku; kasaku,
pi. tusaku.
Bait, nyambo.
Baldness, lupala.
Bamboo, mlasi, pi. milasi.
Banana, ligombo, \A.magombo;
fruit stem, mkonga ; male
flower, litulu.
Bank, of a river, mbanda,
mgulugulu lusulu; the other
side, list.
Baobab, or calabash tree,
mlonji, pi. milonji; cala-
bash, lilonji, pi. malonji.
Barber, juakumetelela.
Bark, of a tree, likungwa, pi.
makungwa.
Basin, ngalekale.
Basket, chikaiala, pi. ikalala;
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
11
large, lukalala,y>\. ngalala;
small open, chiselo, pi. iselo;
long-shaped, mtumba, pi.
mitumba ; small, c/iindu-
ndu, sifting basket, lupeta,
pi. mbeta.
Bat, lichinji, pi. machinji ;
liputiputi, pi. maputiputi ;
chiputiputi, pi. iputiputi.
Bead, chuma, pi. yuma ; red,
chitalaka, pi. italaka ;
white, (?) usimbtva.
Beans, nguunde, mbanda,
sawawa, ngicingioisu, ngu-
nguta ; like sweet pea seed,
mbeso ; tree, mbelimende.
Beard, ndeu.
Beauty, it koto.
Bed, Ugono,yA. magono; sleep-
ing mat, iilili ; strips of
matting for making ulili,
litete, pi. matete.
Bedstead, vsangwali.
Bee, nyuchi ; humble bee, (?)
lini/enyen, pi. manyenyeu.
Beer, ulcana ; not much fer-
mented, ntulwct; corn steep-
ed for making beer, malt,
chilungo, ilungo.
Beggar, jucwina.
Begging, or beseeching, as a
child of its parents, lidete.
Beginning, matando.
Bell, ehaluUmba, pi. yaluli-
mba, chihengele.
Bellows, chipahi ; two bags of
skin, which are closed and
pressed down, and opened
and raised alternately, so
as to give a continuous
draught, misagu ya chipala;
the nozzle of the bellows,
mbugu wa cliipala.
Belly, palutumbu ; pa = at ;
lutumbu, ndumbu, entrails.
Belt of cloth, inpango, pi.
mipango; of twine, luko-
kosi, pi. ngokosi ; lupundo,
pi. mbundo.
Bliang, Indian hemp, c/iamba.
Bile, nyongo.
Bill of a bird (at the mouth),
pialeamwa ; (lip), Jujemo,
pi. njemo.
Bill, axe, mbopo, pi. mibopo.
Bird, lijuni, pi. majuni; chi-
juni, pi. ijuni ; sorts of
birds, Chiwuti, CMkongo,
Chikwengice, Chisolokoto,
(?) secretary bird or adju-
tant, Lititi ; (?) partridge,
Ngwale ; Ngululu ; Ngwi-
lilt; Mlambu ; has a hang-
ing nest, Ngtoesi.
Birth, nwelese ; a bandage
worn by women after a birth,
matvcdeko.
Blacksmith, juakusiana.
Bladder (? scrotum), lipwala.
Blade, of a knife, chisiani
(iron) ; chenjele.
Blessing (? luck), upili.
Blister, lituku, pi. matuhu.
Blood, mi a si.
Bloodvessel or nerve, m tasi, pi.
mitasi.
Body, chiilu, pi. iilu.
Boils, lipute,\>\.mapute; small
painful pimples, chizungv-
putt.
12
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
Bone, liupa, pi. maupa.
Bottom, pasi.
Bough, luambi, pi. nyamhi.
Boundary, mpika.
Bow, uhu/nje, pi. ngunje ;
mkunje, pi. mikunje; bow
string, lusinga, pi. singa.
Box, liweta, pi. maweta; lika-
sa, pi. makas a; chiJcasa,^i.
ikasa.
Boy, micanache, pi. wanache ;
3routh, msongolo, pi. waso-
ngolo.
Bracelet, of brass wire, chiku-
ngu cha mkono; of elephant's
hair, lusinga lua ndembo.
Brain, moongo wa 'mtwe.
Bran, masapi ; husks of rice,
masoJcoliJcoJco ga mpunga.
Branch, lujambi, pi. nyamhi;
pieces cut off a tree, mbanda.
Brass, chikungu, pi. ikungu.
Breadth, chitipa ; as to its
breadth, chamchitipa.
Breakfast, chaJculia cha ku-
ndawi.
Breasts, liwele, pi. mawcle.
Breath, bumusi.
Brink, mjengwa.
Brook, leasulu, pi. tusulu.
Broom, lupiajilo, piajilo.
Brother, used of all relatives,
mlongo, pi. walongo ; elder,
akulu, ]A.acha]culit; young-
er, mpicangwa, pi. wapwa-
ngwa.
Brother, or sister in law, ala- ,
mu ; their, or his brother,
or sister in law, alamhwao.
Bruise, pambitevhe.
Bucket, a vessel to draw water
in, njembo.
Buffalo, njati.
Bug, ngiinguni.
Bull, ng'ombe ja ndume ; apt
to cover, ng'ombe jua mko-
mbalcu.
Bullet, chipolopolo, pi. ipolopo-
lo.
Bundle, litita, pi. matita.
Burden, mtambala, pi. mita-
mbalu; a bundle of things
tied together, mungu, pi.
miungu ; a regularly made
up package, mtumba, pi. ?«/-
tumba ; carried one before
and one behind on a pole,
ja mlwinga ; tied to a pole
between two men (like a
corpse), ^'a mitembo.
Business, masengo.
Butterfly, lipuloputwa,\>\. ma-
puloputwa.
Calf, mwanachejua ng'ombe.
Calm, imialele ; the waters are
calm, m e si garni alele.
Canoe, lilcuungwa,^\. makuu-
ngwa; ligalaiva,\>\. magala-
wa.
Cap, chisoti, pi. isoti.
Carpenter, asokola matiili (he
hollows out mortars).
Cassava, manangvoa ; one root,
litepo Ha manangwa.
Castor oil, mauta ga mbalika.
Cattle, n'gombe.
Cause, ligongo; what began it?
chichi nitanditeje?
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
13
Caterpillar, Uivungu, pi. ma-
te ungu.
Cave, mbango ; pit, simbo ;
hole, mbugu.
Centipede, lijclenesya, pi. ma-
jelenesya.
Chaff, masapi.
Chain, litambichi, pi. mata-
mbichi ; the links of a chain,
ndolo sya litambichi.
Chair, chitcngo, pi. itengo.
Chameleon, naltvii.
Character, 1 urn bile; his charac-
ter is widely known, lumbili
hduuma.
Charcoal, makala [ga mtela}.
Chatterbox, segwe.
Cheating, ulamba ; a cheat,
mundu jua ulamba.
Cheek, on the cheek bone, pan-
dese ; below the cheek bone,
lijeje.
Cheek bone, ndese.
Chest, pamtima ; heart, &c,
mlima.
Chief, achimwene, pi. acha-
chimwene.
Child, m ma » arhe,\A.wanacJie ;
a newly born child, chi/po-
ngolelo.
Chin, or lower jaw, chimbundi.
Claw, cliiJcose, pi. iko.se.
Cleft, liluga, pi. maluga.
Cloth, nguo ; blue, ehinyo-
ng'onyo ; homemade, lika-
mambo ; bark cloth, viati-
wondo.
Clouds, liicund<.\A. mainnide:
clear sky, Hurunde lia pi-
I 'y tin.
Coast, people of the coast, wana-
sala ; their language, &c,
china sal a.
Cock, tambala ; comb, luese ;
wattles, ndeu, likolomiko.
Cockroach, mbeu.
Cocoa nut, lingole, pi. mangole.
Cold, mbepo.
Comb, lisamolo, pi. masamolo.
Companion, ajangu, pi. aeha-
jangu;ambosanga, pi. acha-
mbosanga.
Company, a, mnuku.
Concubine, achakongwe wa
mwitengo.
Conversation, makunguluko.
Cook, mtelcsi, pi. watelesi.
Copper, chikungit.
Cord, lugua ; litgoji. pi. ngoji ;
mgoji, pi. migoji ; twisted
rope, lukonji.
Corn : Indian corn, chi/manga,
pi. i manga; cob of com,
limanga, pi. mamanga; core
of the cob, chisonda, pi.
isonda ; male flower, suaji;
leaves, makwati ; stalks. //'-
tindi, pi. matindi ; dry.
rnbetu ,• husk, magoolelo.
Millet, mapemba ; root, //'-
si/nde, p\. masinde ; rootlets,
m sapu lo, pi. m isap u lo ,• sten i .
nvpesi ; leaves on the stem.
t//i/ra/i.\)\. makwati; joints
in the stein, mbindi; corn in
the ear, ihnnbo ya mape-
mba; heads of corn, lisacJie,
pi. masache; footstalk of the
head, liteti ; stems of a kind
of millet chewed like sugar
14
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
cane, msicaga, pi. miswaga;
second year's crop, makolo-
tcela (ga mapemba). With
a small seed like linseed,
mswele, msundi, likutwi.
With a small round seed and
hanging close heads, usanje.
See Sice.
Corner, (?) on the side, ngulu-
gulit.
Corpse, mini, fl.mitui; sewn
up in a mat and tied to a
pole ready for burial, mte-
nibo, pi. mitembo.
Cotton, litonji.
Cough, chikosomola.
Country, chilambo ; the coun-
try, mi gun da ; a low wet
place fit for rice, lilambo,\A.
malambo ; a place near a
river fit for millet, matimba.
Course (of aviver), kui-wanda (?) .
Cousin, nvwypwa.
Cover, chioniko, pi. yoniko.
Cow, ng'ombe j a jikongive, pi.
sya ngongwe; having calved,
ng'ombe ja mkolo.
Cowitch, usangu.
Crack, luga ; cracks made by
the sun in dried mud, ufe-
leje.
Craft, malalamuko.
Credentials, chimanyilo, pi.
imanyilo. The chiefs send
a slick or a sword as a sign
that the message comes from
them. One chief has a little
axe which lie sends by way
of credentials,
Crest, chinyuzu.
Crocodile, ngwena, chimala-
ma si.
Crowd, masimano; msuku,\>\.
misuku.
Cry, chisegwe ; screaming,
chisuu ; shouting, chilulu ;
cry of birds, tongola.
Cubit, mkono (i. e. from the
point of the elbow to the tip
of the fingers) ; chilinga
cha mkono.
Cup, ngaligali.
Curses, mahceso.
Custom (the way people act),
chilinga cha kutenda wand u.
Dagger (Arab knife), chipula
cha Uhisi.
Danger, frightening, pakvo-
goya, mapwelelo.
Darkness, chipi.
Daughter, mwanache jua
mkongwe, mwana jua mko-
ngive.
Dawn, kumachelo; before sun-
rise, mung'ando wa Una.
Day (sun), liua, pi. moa ; all
day, musi tetetete totolo ;
morning, kundaivi ; noon.
musi, liaa pavhanya mtiri ;
evening, ligulo ; sunset, li-
gulo 'mnope.
Death, Jcuuwa.
Debt, m agon go, ma gam bo.
Derision, uwilo, chipongwe.
chanache.
Desert (all sand), msangasa-
nga/pe; dry place, mkitliku-
lipe.
Devil, lisoka, pi. masoka,
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
15
lisimu (?) ; place for offer-
ings, pamzimu.
Dew, mangame.
Dinner, chakulia clia musi.
Dirt : much dirt, litaka, pi.
mataka ; dust, husks, &c,
chiswani, pi. iswani ; mud,
litope, pi. matope ; grime
on a pot, licliile ; -what is
rubbed from a man's back
after bathing, likaku.
Disease, ilwele.
Disgrace (shame), mchesela.
Dish, chiselo.
Dog, 'mbivct; (little), kaiva,
pi. tuwa ; wild dog, likuli,
pi. makiili.
Door, litanga, pi. matanga ;
cliitanga, pi. itanga ; little
door at the back of the
house, chitupa.
Dove, m/mos / pigeon, ngunda.
Dream, masagamilo.
Dregs, luscnga, pi. senga ;
ehiJcoho, pi. ikoko.
Drop, ndondiva ; lindondwa,
pi. madondwa.
Drum, ngoma. Kinds of drums
and drumming, likunda,
msondo, chinganga ; used
for war, lilombe; held in
the hand against the breast,
michomo; small drums beaten
quickly, chimininga.
Drunkard, akolwa.
Dry-place, mkvli.
Dunghill, chitutu.
Dust, lllHllihl.
D\v&r£,juamji])i, mundu jita-
kuil'da ; shortness, (?) uipi.
Dwelling, pakutama; a former
place of residence, masami ;
site of an abandoned house,
liundu.
Ear, lipilikanyilo, pi. ma/pili-
kanyilo.
Earring, ndolo sya mapili-
kanyilo ; hole for earring,
ndolola, apowele.
Earth, chilambo, litaka.
Earthquake, matetemelo ga
chilambo.
Earthen pots : cooking pot,
chiteleko, pi. iteleko; large
pot for making beer, litele-
ko, pi. mateleko ; liwiga,
pi. mawiga; chiwiga (cha
ku teJechela); small, luu-
lugo ; water jar, lulu.
East, kulikutioka liua.
Eboii}'-, mpingo.
Echo, ma/oice.
Egg, lijele, pi. majele ; liiida-
nda ,\>\.ma)idanda ; liwumbi,
pi. mawumbi.
Eggshell, makombwa.
Elbow (point of the elbow),
cliingongoli.
Elephant, ndembo ; elephant's
tusks (in the interior), meno
ga ndembo; (on the const)
liwengwa, pi. ma/wengwa.
End, mbesi, pambesi ; (point),
lusonga, pi. songa.
Enemy, jua kukatima ulti-
ma.
Error, makoso.
Euphorbia, mtntit. pi. mitittit;
ngachi, a kind used as a fish
C 2
10
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
poison, ngwese ; its milky
sap, utombo.
Evening, 1/gulo.
Excrement, manyi.
Eye, liso, pi. meso ; eye-brows,
gwimbi; eye-lids, lukope,
pi. ngope.
Face, kumeso.
Famine, sala.
Fan, kapepclo, pi. twapepelo ;
ehipepelelo, pi. ipepelelo ;
lupepelo, pi. mbepelo.
Farewells, malangano.
Fat, mauta.
Father, atati, wese; father, or
son-in-law, ale we.
Fatigue, usahaliu.
Faults, maJeoso, maliwalo.
Feast : a gathering of people
to work and feast afterwards,
cliijao; gathering for dances,
lihwata, chindimba, mda-
langa.
Feathers, ling'&mba, pi. ma-
ng'omba; long feathers, 11-
ndeng'a, pi. mandenga.
Feebleness, ulepetala.
Fence, lutenje, pi. ndenje.
Fever : the body is fevered,
pachiilu pakundvpuka ;
pain in the chest, liwndika.
Field, mgwnda, pi. migunda.
See Country.
Fight, mamenyano.
Figure, mating a.
Finger, chain, pi. yala.
Fins, mapapilo.
Fire, moto, pi. mioto ; fire-flies,
chinyetanyeta, pi. inyeta-
nyeta ; tire place, chisisa ;
stones on which the pot is
placed, maiga, sing, liiga.
Firewood, thin, lusasu, pi.
sasu ; large, htngwi, pi.
nr/wi.
Fist, lisua, pi. masua.
Fish, somba ; fishes' tail, Zmw-
pule.
Fisherman, mloposya somba ;
net fisher, miv/tta somba.
Fish-trap, dema ; fishing-line,
lukonji ; float, lutela.
Flag, msati.
Flame, lilamba.
Flea, lutitili, pi. nditili.
Flesh, nyama.
Flour, utandi, (!) idutu.
Flower, lutua, pi. ndua.
Fly, membe ; a small trouble-
some sort of fly, chisugu-
sugu.
Foam, linlo.
¥og,lipi< ndugtilu ,dendambim '.
Food, chakulia, pi. yakulia ;
rations, mjomalilo; food put
away after being made ready
to cook, mbiko; food put away
after being cooked, lipolwe}
a ball of food made ready to
put in the mouth, kapamtt.
Foot, likongolo, pi. mako-
ngolo; sole of the foot, likao,
pi. makao; footprint, lusajo,
p"l. sajo.
Force, maehili,
Ford, chiko, pachiko.
Foreigner, mlendo, pi. walcndo;
alendo, pi. achalendo.
Forehead, pa tisyo.
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
17
Forest, msitu; jungle, likonde^
pi. makonde; desert, mseso.
Fortune, upili.
Foundations, lukolome ; holes
for hut-poles, lisimbo, pi.
masimbo.
Fountain, spring, pagati-
mbwiche mesi, pagakuto-
kota mesi.
Fowls, nguku.
Fowl-house, chitundu cha
nguku.
Freedom, ulukosyo.
Friend, amhosanga, pi. achcx-
nibosanga.
Friendship, uganja.
Frog, nasonda ; liulaiy>\.mola.
Froth, liulo.
Fruit, litunda, pi. matunda ;
a fruit like mangoes, lisuku,
pi. masuku; a fruit like a
large damson, luuu, pi. uu;
(?) ngana.
Furniture, ilingo ; sing, cld-
lingo.
Gall, nyonga.
Gazelle, kapawala, pi. tupa-
wala.
General, jua mkulungica jua
ngondo.
Germ, ndwelo, mhegu.
Giddiness, chisiwngusiungu.
Gift, Jitulu, pi. matulu.
Girdle. See Belt.
Girl, mwesijana ; atnwali, pi.
achamwali.
Gizzard, ndulumba.
Glass, kalilole; kachilole.
Glutton, mnyelo.
Gnat, mosquito, jewjeyn a .
Goat, inbusi.
God, Mulungu.
Gold, n da J a ma sya njejeu.
Goodness, wambone.
Gourd : a gourd used as a ladle,
liuugu, pi. mongit; tastes
like a vegetahle marrow,
liiingu mbondo ; large
gourd, litagalala, pi. ma-
tagalala; a small gourd used
to carry oil, kisasi ; water
melon, litikiti, pi. matikiti;
eaten raw like a cucumher,
litangwa pi. matangwa.
Grain, songolo ; cleaned grain,
msokolo.
Grandchild, msukitlu.
Grandfather or Grandmother,
ambuji.
Grass, linyasi, pi. manyasi ,•
a blade of grass, ukttsipuka.
Grasshopper, litete, pi. matete;
chitete, pi. itete.
Grave, lilembe, pi. malembt .•
a sound heard about graves.
(?) liicuta or chiwitta.
Gravy, msusi.
Greatness, wkwlungwa.
Greediness, litama.
Grief, lukumbuchilo.
Ground nuts, mtcsa ; a hard
sort, njama or sugu.
Guard, mlindilile, pi. voali-
ndilile.
Guest, mlendo, pi. tcalendo ;
alendo, pi. achalendo.
Guide, jua kulongohla.
Guinea fowl, chikolola, pi.
ikolula.
3
18
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
Gun, uti; barrel, mtutit ; ham-
mer, ukunje ; screw, (?) fas-
tens all toget\\ev,chisou; pan,
pa mbeko ; lid of pan, pa
cliikombe ; ramrod, /»/.'o-
se/o ; muzzle, pakamwa ;
stock, lipondo ; trigger,
mtambo ; touch-hole, pa
uucisya; spring, mikunje;
Hint, liganga lia uti.
Gunpowder, uonga.
(Jut, litumbo, pi. matumbo ;
chitumbo, pi. itumbo.
Gutter, lukoloma.
Hail, ulaja maganga.
Hair, umbo; one hair, luumbo;
white hair, uw£«.
Half: two halves or pieces of
cloth, mbande siwili ; two
pieces of pumpkin,wood,&c,
nyale siwili; to cut in half,
kukang'anda chalumope.
Halting-place : without water,
chilandamlima ; without
tire, mchisima.
Hammer, nyundu.
Hand, mkono, pi. mikono ;
palm of hand, ligasa, pi.
magasa ; left hand, mkono
wa Tcu mchiji ; right hand,
mkono wa mlilo, chilume
or mdio.
Handful, in the palm, mwigasa.
Handle, mpini, pi. niipini;
chipini, pi. ipini.
Hare, (?) rabbit, sungida, chi-
S idi gul 'a.
1 1 arp, chindang'anda.
Harvest, mauno.
Hawk, mwewa ; has a red
throat, cJiiinbanga.
Head, 'mtice, pi. mitwe.
Health, umi, chiwela.
Heap, liunjile, pi. maunjile ;
lusungu, pi. sungu.
Heai-t, mtiuuf.
Heat, rao/o, chitiikuta.
Heaven, liwunde, kuinane ku
Mulling n.
Hedge, lutenje, pi. ndenj'e.
Heel, chindende.
Hell, you will go to hell, »w-
Zowi inoto, (to-morrow fire).
Hem, of cloth, lujeje.
Hen, nguku, ; \a.y'mg hen,
mkolo ; little chicks, inku-
/■« foea tuninide.
Herd, likumbu, pi. mukumbu.
Herdman, mlisya, jua kusa-
kula mbusi, Sfe.
Hill, litumbi, pi. matumbi ;
katumbi, pi. tutumbi.
Hippopotamus, domondo.
Hire, mbote.
History, chindawi.
Hoe, lijela, pi. majela ; large
hoes with very long handles,
ligwangwa, pi. magwangwa.
Hole, in wood, mbugu, pi. ffli-
Swyw; in earth, &c. mwisye;
a hole bored through some-
thing, apoicele.
Hollow of a tree, mbugu.
Honey, «<?/</.
Honeycomb, liscga lia nyu-
clii ; bee's wax, lipula.
Hook, chilopo, pi. >7o/w.
Hope, makulupalilo.
Horn, of oxen, &c, litvengwa,
T,TST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
19
pi. mawengwa ; of goats,
&c, msengo, pi. misengo.
Horn or trumpet, lipenga, pi.
mapenga.
Hornet, litendeu,]A. matentleu;
a hornet that builds on the
walls with clay, nalugumho.
Horse, mbalasi.
House, nyurnba ; large, liko-
me, pi. makome ; a house
where a person has died (the
word is used as an oath),
liuc/ia; a place where a
house formerly stood, liu-
ndu ; storehouse for grain,
ngokice.
Hump, nyvmdv..
Hunger, sola.
Hunter, msakula, pi. wasaku-
la ; one who uses a gun,
mlumba, pi. ivalumba.
Hurry, msanget.
Husband or Wife, asono.
Husk, likoa, pi. makoa.
Hut, kajumba, pi. tujumba ;
hut to scare birds from, chi-
lindo, pi. ilindo.
Hysena, litunu, pi. matunu;
litunungu, pi. matunitngu.
Hypocrite, mnami, pi. wanami.
Idleness, ulesi, usakaliu ; fee-
bleness, ulepetala.
Indian corn, chimanga. See
Com.
Information, malulo ; what
news? nil malulo ?
Insect : small black insect,
comes out in great numbers,
eats cloth, and every thing,
mbamba ; like a grasshopper,
but very small, ticks like a
clock, chijoso.
Intelligence, mate, malango.
Iron, chisiano ; ore, maganga
ga ku cliipala ; smelting'
furnace, pakujenjela.
Itch, v/pele.
Ivory, meno ga ndembo, ma-
wengwa.
Jack fruit, liaja, pi. maja.
Jar for water, luulo.
Jaw, chimbundi.
Jealousy, uwiuu.
Joint, mbindi, pi. mibindi;
ehisukusuku, pi. isukusuku.
Joke, uioilo ; chanuclie, pi.
yanaclie.
Journe3r, ulendo.
Judgment, mapokolanyo.
Justice: goodness, voambone;
decision, magambo ; he Las
done equitably, alinganisye.
Kernel, htsongolo, pi. songolo.
Key, luugulilo, pi. ugulilo.
Kick, liehese, pi. maeliese.
Kidney, htsongolo, pi. songolo
(sya nyama).
Kilwa, Chiwinji.
Kind is expressed by o///- pre-
fixed to the name of the
sort, as the l"«o sort, ehiyao;
the coast sort, chinasala ;
of different kinds, /we /«<y;<
)/c( hie iiupc; what sort is
it? uli palH
King, asiene chilambo; aehi-
20
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
mwene, pi. achacMmwene ;
juamtenga ; chezumbe (not
used in the interior).
Kingdom, uchimwene.
Knee, lilungo, pi. malungo.
Knife, chipula, pi. ipula; a
small sort of knife, chimaje;
handle, chipini; blade, eld-
siano ; slieath, llgonelo.
Knot, chvwndo, pi. iundo.
Labour, masengo.
Ladle (made of a sort of gourd
which grows with a natural
handle), mgcco; the part used
as a handle, lukonga hva
mgao ; fiat, msomelo, pi.
misomelo ; c//ikoi,]A. ikoi.
Lair (place where a beast has
lain or rolled), liundo, pi.
mondo.
Lake, litanda, pi. matanda ;
at the lake, petanda.
Lamb, mwanacheja ngondolo.
Lamp, lumuli.
Land, chilambo.
Language, <•///' welecheto, maice-
lecheto.
Laugh, chiseho ; one who
laughs at every thing, chi-
gwagwa.
Lead, liwelo.
Leaf, lisamba, pi. masamba.
Leak, pamsululv. ; leaking
place, msulnlu.
Lean-to. ///pout, pi. mbenn ;
lipenu, pi. mapenv,.
Leather. See Skin.
Leg (from the knee to the toes),
likongolo, pi. maJcongolo,
Leisure (privacy), mtemela.
Length, uleu.
Leopard, cJiisui.
Leprosy, mawalanga; a break-
ing out into sores, lindaka.
Liar, mnami, pi. tvanami,
akwete unami.
Lice, rtjipi; small lice in fowls.
luulayili, pi. ulayili.
Lid, chiwoniko, cha ku oni-
chila.
Lie, unami, nami.
Life, mtundu ( p ).
Light : light-holes, mbelete.
Lightning, njasi ; lightning
which rends trees, &c, njasi
chikwwaluld ; which strikes
the ground, njasi past.
Lime, swakala.
Limit, mpika, pi. mipika;
this man's boundary and
mine are the same, i.e. our
land adjoins, mpika tea
uoawa na wangune chalu-
mope.
Lion, lisimba, pi. masimba; a
small round thing taken
from a lion and reputed a
charm against them, njilisi
ya lisimba.
Lip, lujemo, pi. njemo; upper,
lua pa chanya, or lu pena-
ni ; lower, lua pasi, or lu
past.
Lip-ring, chingwengwa, c/ti-
wesa ; hole for it in the
upper lip, lupelele.
Liver, litoga, pi. ma toga.
Lizard, chigiclukwandaj large,
mbulukwanda , large marsh
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
21
reptile, sagata ; large land
reptile, iig'ondwa ; mpopo ;
ehinyese, pi. inyese.
Load, mtambala, pi. mita-
mbala.
Loins, 'mchiuno.
Lcoking-glass: small round,
kalilole.
Louse. See Lice.
Love, manenyelo.
Lumps (as in bad flour), ma-
pitlua ; the flour has gone
lumpy, utandi utesile ma-
pulua.
Madness, masoJca (devils).
Maggots, mbi.su.
Maiden, amwali, ckemwali,
msijana. See Virgin.
Malice, ukomu, icwanga.
Man, mundii, pi. wundu ; mu-
ndu jua mlume, pi. wandu
tva wain me.
Mangoe, bembu ; a similar
fruit, lisuku, pi. masuhu.
Manure, mai.
Marriage, kulombela; cry of
joy at a wedding, Jculu-
luta.
Mark, chimanyilo.
Marrow, uongo tea maupa.
Master, ambuje.
Mat, ill Hi ; straw for mat-
making, lifete.
Meal, chahulia.
Meaning, mwenemu.
Measure, chahulinjila.
Mediator, ^'wa hi chenjelela.
Medicine, mtela, pi. mitela ;
ckilagu,jA. ilagu; medicine-
man, jua mtela.
Meekness, malenjelo.
Merchandize, maluchu.
Merriment, eh iseJco.
Middle, Icati, kisikati.
Midnight, pahati chilo.
Midwife, jua humelel-esya.
Milk, lihama ; curdled milk,
mawele ga majiu.
Mill: lower stone, liganga Ha
kii siajila; upper stone,
ngasija ku siajila.
Millepede, lijongolo, pi. ma-
jongolo.
Millet, mapemba ; one grain,
lipemba.
Mind: heart, mtima '; under-
standing, malango.
Mire, litupe ; much mire, ma-
tope.
Mist, lipundiigulu.
Mocker, (a man who hears
what you say and goes and
makes fun of it to others),
chigwagwa.
Mockery, uirilo.
Modesty, suni.
Mole (?) uulco.
Monkey, chitumbili ; ape, li-
jani, pi. majaiii, nyani ;
tame monkeys (it is said
they will run away wild
again if they are called
nyani), mungo.
Month, mwesi, pi. miesi; next
month, mwesi utuonecheu ;
last month, mwesi wa liso ,-
month before last, mwesi wa
lijusi.
22
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
Moon, mtoesi ; full moon,
mwesi utesile litinnba; new
moon, mwesi uoneche mpela
Ivmganje (rind of sugar-cane).
Moonlight, luwesi ; the moon
shines very brightly, luwesi
lukulanguka mnope.
Morning, kundawi.
Morsel (a little), ehinandipe ;
a morsel of food ready to put
into the mouth, Icapamu.
Mortar (for cleaning grain),
lituli, pi. matuli.
Mosquito, jenjem a .
Moth, chisolokoto (?).
Mother, of children, amao ;
of a grown-up man, kusyeto-
kula ; my mother, amao
wangu; his mother, achiku-
lugwe.
Motion (play), ng'ando.
Mouldiness, itkutu.
Mountain, licJienje, pi. ma-
ehenje.
Mouse, kakoswe. See Sat.
Mouth, kamica ; pakamwa.
Mud, matope.
Murderer, muulaji.
Musical instruments : horn,
lipenga, pi. mapenga ; accor-
dion (tongues of iron played
by vibration), lulimba; pipe,
chimbeta, pi. imbeta. See
Drum.
Nail (of fingers), chikalawesa,
pi. ikalawesa; dead part,
claw, ngo.se, chikose, pi.
ikose ; of iron, mchililo, pi.
michililo.
Name, Una, pi. mena ; tell me
your name, mdulile Una
lie nu.
Nation, lukosyo.
Nature, lupinga, cJiipinga.
Navel, chisou, pi. isou.
Neck, lukosi, pi. ngosi.
Needle, slngano; large, to sew
mats with, kasinje ; very
small, kasingani, pi. tusi-
ngani; needle made of bam-
boo, chilowa. pi. ilowa.
Neighbour, achaajetu ; he
lived at our place, atemi
mwangwetu; living near us,
xduwanclikene.
Nephew, mwipwa; my nephew,
mwipwangu ; his or their
nephew, mwipagwao.
Net, luaou ; to catch gazelles,
likoka.
News : what news ? uli kwe-
leko.
Night, ehilo; nightfall, totolo;
midnight, pakati chilo ; all
night, yijenjenjengwe.
Noise, Usegtve, pi. masegwe,
chisegwe, pi. isegwe ; loicego,
pi. malowego ; what is that
noise about? malowego ga
chichi galego ?
Noon, nutusi ; Una pachanya
'mtwe.
Noose, kisiiipulilo; a trap to
catch birds with a noose,
kit a tea.
North, mapwene.
Nose, lupula, pi. mbida.
Nostril, mbengo mupula,
mbiajn iva lupula.
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
23
Nourishment, yakulia.
Nucleus, lisongolo, pi. maso-
ngolo.
Number, mawalango.
Oath, chilapo, pi. ilapo ; cus-
tomary oaths : a strong
affirmation, soto liuclia ;
at the graves, kumalemhe ;
by the death and burial of
my father, kuakuwwa age-
nda atati akumsito.
Oil, mauta.
Ointment, mauta ga mtela.
Ordeal, ckisangwa ; a stone
which is boiled in a pot,
innocent people can touch
it, a thief is scalded, mtela
wa ckisangwa.
Origin (where it formerly be-
gan) mwichatanduicilile ka-
tasipc.
Ornament, ukoto.
Orphan, juawina, pi. wawina.
Ox, ng'ombe.
Owl, liundi, pi. maundi.
Pain, kupeteka.
Palm of the hand, ligasa, pi.
magasa ; chigasa, pi. igasa.
Paper, likarata.
Pardon, ulechelo.
Parent, jua kit welelca.
Parrot, ngwalu, ngwesi.
Part, lipungu, pi. mapiuujv.
Patch, chigamba, pi. igamba.
Path, litala ; a newly opened
path, litala lia liana.
Pebble, salawi.
Peel (of fruit,) UTcoa, pi.
makoa.
People, wandu.
Pepper (red), sopola.
Perspiration, cliitukuta.
Pestle, mwisi, pi. miisi.
Piece, chiwisya ; a piece of
wood, kitela ; a splinter or
a piece taken oft" by an adze,
ehipalawandu.
Pig, ligolule, pi. magolule ;
likuluwe, pi. makuluwe;
wild pig (with large tusks),
mbango ; lives in marshes,
ngungusi.
Pigeon, ngunda.
Pillow (generalh' of wood),
insamilo, pi. misamilo.
Pimple, upele, kapele, pi. tu-
pele ; a sort of small, pain-
ful eruption, chisungupete.
Pipe, chilongo (c/ia kit utila
sona) ; flute of reeds, chi-
mbeta, pi. imbeta.
Pit, Jisimbo, pi. masimho ; a
muddy hollow, litimba.
Pith, ututu.
Pity, chanasa.
Place, paniju.
Plant : offshoot, young plant
vof bananas, makulowelo ;
young plant of mtama or
rice, songa.
Point, lisonga, pi. masonga.
Poison, m wayi ; charm to
cause death, Iwasi; poison
upon an arrow, iisungu.
Porch, lumsisi, pi. msisi :
seat outside the house,
24
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
panganya; under the eaves,
which are very long, Jcuwesi.
Porcupine, ndinu.
Porridge (of grain), ugali;
like arrowroot, made of dried
casava root, mtandasya.
Purler : in a caravan, jua hit-
jigala ; one who carries,
jua In lalika; one who car-
ries for, mj "ige't 'e,\)\.iva/ '/ 'gel 'e .
Possession, chipanje, pi. vpanje.
Post (of a house), lusichi, pi.
sichi.
Potsherd, cJrijonjo, pi. ijonjo ;
small, chijesya, pi. ijesya.
Potter, jua hu gumba iwiga,
mgumba iwiga.
Powder, utcmdi ; mere dust,
utanditandipe; gunpowder,
uonga.
Powder-horn, liwengwa, pi.
mawengwa.
Power, machili.
Praise, lumbili.
Prayer, majugo.
i 'resent, matulu, mbiho.
Prison, pandu pa kutau-a :
wooden collar, likongwa.
Privates (?), unyago wa nda-
gala (?), unyago wa chi-
putit (?).
Profit, upili.
Prudence, chilingo, pi. /lingo.
Pumpkin. See Gourd.
Quarrel, ngondo.
Question, mausyo.
Quiver, chikopa, pi, ikopa,
ndumba.
Rag, cliitambula, pi. ilambala,
Jcatambala, pi. tutambala ;
a worn out little bit of cloth,
Tcaguo ha kawisaga.
Pain, ula ; it sprinkles with
rain, ula jikununya ; there
is a driving mist, ula jihu-
lununyunda.
Rainbow, uktmjewaMulungu.
Rat, likoswe, pi. malcoswe ;
liindo, pi. maindo ; lipu-
kuu,j>\. mapukuu; lipanya,
pi. mapanya.
Rations, ngomaUlo.
Rattle, lisewe, pi. masewe .-
lusanji, pi. sanji, made by
putting small stones in a
gourd, or dry seeds in a cala-
bash.
Rays (of light), yala.
Razor, lunula, pi. meta; lv-
Jcwangulu, pi. ngwangulu.
Reason (understanding), ma-
Jan go ; cause, ligongo.
Red pepper, sopola.
Refuge, /rwi/ huutuchila.
Remedy, chilabu, pi. ilabu ;
mtela, pi. mitela.
Restlessness, maulukutu.
Rhinoceros, mbela.
Rib, lumbalati, pi mix/lad.
Rice, mpunga ; cleaned, mso-
/,n/n; cooked, insclc; rice
straw, masuani ga mpunga;
rice water, chitiwi cha
msokolo.
Ping, sapuli.
River, lusulo, sulo ; mlusvlo;
pi. milusulo; large, lujenda,
jA.jenda.
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
£5
Road, likondo ; way, path,
litala ; on the road, petala;
cross-roads, pamalikano.
Robber, juakusombola.
Rock, Iwala ; lilwala, pi. ma-
hoala.
Roof, chipagala, pi. ipagala.
Room, nyumba, kajumba ;
space, liuto.
Root, likolo, pi. makolo ; root-
lets, mchiga, pi. michiga.
Rope, lugoji, pi. ngoji; mgoji,
pi. migoji ; lukonji.
Ruddle, ngama.
Rumbling sound, masionga.
Rust, lukutu.
Sale, masumo, masulimo.
Salt, w/We.
Sand, msanga.
Sandfly, chipukusu, pi. ip«-
Sap (if milky), utomongo; if
watery, mesi.
Saviour : (deliverer, one who
takes away) mtiosya ; (one
who makes well), mlamisya.
Scales scraped off a fish, mapa-
lawandu.
Scar, liwasi, pi. mawasi ;
liwanga lia kala.
Scents, manunjilo ; a wood
scraped and used as a scent,
mknngusa ; a marsh plant
whose stems are worn round
tbe neck for their scent,
mboka ; a scented root,
chilwngu.
Scorpion, lives in rotten wood.
kalise, pi. tulise ; larger,
and lives in holes in the
ground, Ukalambu, pi. ma-
kalambu.
Scraps (left after eating),
malepelo.
Scull, ehikalakasa, pi. ikala-
kasa.
Scum, chiulu, liulu.
Scurvy ( ? ), mang'ungutu.
Seam, mtoto ; without seam,
ngali mtoto.
Season: rainy season, chukit ;
cool season, masika ; norther-
ly winds, chau. A descrip-
tion of the year — northerly
winds about December,
chau; neartherains, pamtu-
lo ; beginning of the rains,
chuku cha kutanda ; now
hoeing, sambano kwpalila ;
earing, itumbo ; we have
tasted the new corn, tidi~
mbwic/ie ; reaping, kutume-
nyene ; putting in the store-
house, kututaje mgokwe ;
time to eat corn, masika ga
kulamapemba; then chau;
the year is ended, chaka
kimasile.
Seat, chitengo, pi. itengo ;
mtamilo, pi. mitamiJo ; seat
outside a house, panganya.
Secret, mtemela.
Seed, mbeju ; of water melon,
&c, ndtvelo ; of the gourd
eaten raw like cucumber,
ndanga.
Semsem, mkwia.
Separation (? division), maga-
wanyo.
26
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
Servant, juaTcutum ika.
Shade, mwilili.
Shadow, chiwilili.
Shame, modesty, so«?'; disgrace,
mcJiesela.
Share, lipungu, pi. mapungu.
Sheath, ligonelo, pi. magonelo.
Sheep, ngondolo.
Shelf, ligulu, pi. magulu.
Shield, chikopa, pi. ihopa ;
kakopa,-p\. tulcopa; likopa,
pi. maJcopa.
Shirt, mwinyilo, pi. miinyilo.
Shoal, mbanga.
Shoot, chisiji, pi. isiji; ujiti,
lutela ; as in the centre of
a palm or in grass, sulci.
Shore, lisi, mivisi, pasi,
mbwani.
Shoulder, lihoyo, pi. makoyo.
Shower, ulajikununya.
Sickness, ehilwele, pi. ihvele ;
nausea, mselu.
Side, lupande, pi. mhande.
Sieve, basket to sift with, lu-
peta, pi. mbeta.
Silence, manyamalo, chetee.
Silver, ndalama (sya stvela).
Sister, mlumbu,mlongo.
Skewer, luani.
Skin, llkombwa, pi. mako-
mbiva ; skin of crocodiles,
<kc.,liwanguh<,\)\.mawa)igi(-
lu ; of men, &c, Ukunami ;
of leopards, &c, lipende ;
of snakes, lisegalo ; a cast
snake skin, ligwagulilo.
Sky, liunde, maunde ga mapi-
lyuu.
Slave, mkapolo, pi. wakapolo;
slave stick, likongwe, pi.
makongive ; iron which fas-
tens it round the neck, mchi-
lilo.
Slavery, ukapolo.
Sleep, lugono.
Slipperiness, utelesya, utiatya.
Small pox, ndui.
Smell, manungo ; smell of ani-
mal decomposition, cliituuti;
smell of burning hairs, chi-
wawile.
Smoke, liosi.
Snail, likonokono, pi. mako-
nokono.
Snake, 11 j oka, pi. majoka ;
great snake,lipili,j>l.mapili;
python, satu.
Snare, made with ropes : for
buffaloes, litambula ; for
birds, lukonji, pi. ngonji.
Sneezing, onioisyo.
Snuff, sona ga kunusi; snuff-
box, tabachilo.
Sole of the foot,Z/#ao,pl. makao.
Son, mwana, mwanache ; my
son, mwanangu ; your son,
mwanagwenv. ; his son,
mwanagwao.
Song, hiimbo, pi. ?iimbo.
Soot, makala ga lijosi ; grime
(on a pot), mach'de (ga
chiwiga).
Sore, liwanga, pi. mawanga.
Sort is expressed by chi- pre-
fixed to the name of the
sort. Nyumba sya clii-
n asa la, house of the sort built
on the coast.
Soul (?), mtima, malango.
LIST OP SUBSTANTIVES.
•27
Sound, lilowe.
Source, lilambo (/), mkuli(l).
South, chamchitipa.
Space: place, pandit; open
space of ground, palangwi-
ehe; light, clear space, li-
langa; space, opportunity,
room, liuto.
Spear, lipanga, pi. mapanga ;
shaft, ngongo; small cutting
blade, mpalilo, pi. mipalilo.
Spider, . nyangata ; spider's
web, liridandambiili, litonji
lia lindaiidambiili; ajump-
ing spider which eats white
ants, chitopotopo.
Spittle, mata.
Spleen, liicandama.
Spoon, mtiko, pi. mitiJco; large
spoon, chikoi, pi. ikoi.
Stable, Wcolwa (lia ng'ombe).
Stage, of a journey, malonje-
lelo.
Stains, mawala mawala.
Stake (sharpened stakes set in
traps to kill beasts) , lisonga,
pi. masonga.
Stalk. See Stem.
Stammering, chimeme.
Stamping, with the foot, ma-
il g any a to.
Star, ndondwa ; falling star,
ndondwa ji jig wile.
Stem, of millet &c, mpesi, pi.
m ipesi. See Com and Stf(( w.
Steps, maliwato.
Stick, ngolombe ; a staff, mpu-
to ; a switch, kapichi, pi. tu-
pichi ; a thin stick, mpicki,
pi. mipichi.
D
Stockade, luwagala.
Stomach, lit umbo ; smaller in-
testines, tutumbo.
Stone, liganga, pi. maganga.
Story, eltindawi, pi. indauoi.
Stranger, mlendo, pi. walendo.
Straw, dry, manyassi ga ma-
jumu; rice straw, masuani
ga mpunga ; one straw, It-
suani ; dry stems of millet,
maize, etc., mbetu.
Strap, lukanda, pi. mganda.
Strength, macliili.
String, lulionji, lupote; bow
string, lusinga, pi. singa.
Stumps of trees, mirhiga ja
mil el a.
Stuttering, chigugumisi.
Stye, on the eye, sochela.
Sugar cane, 'mhingu, pi. mi-
lungu; outer skin peeled off
before eating, manganji ;
one piece, linganji ; what
is spit out after chewing
(trash), ikambilo (one piece,
chikambilo) ya milungn.
Sun, Una, (pi. moira, da}'s) ; the
sun is rising, liua HJcutio-
ka ; the sun is setting, liua
likuswa.
Supper, yahuZia ya ligulo.
Suture, mtoto, pi. mitoto.
Sweat, ehituluta.
Sweet potatoes, mbatata ;
raised bed for planting sweet
potatoes, litutu, pi. matutu.
Swelling, maimbo; paimbile.
Sword : straight Arab sword,
lupanga, pi. mbanga ;
curved Arab sword, mkalo,
28
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
pi. mikalo; sword like knife,
chipula cha lupanga ; han-
dle, mpini, pi. mipini ; chi-
pini, pi. ipini ; scabbard, li-
gonelo, pi. magonelo.
Tail, mchila, pi. michila ; tail
of a fish, lusepule Iwa so-
mba.
Tale, chindawi, pi. indawi.
Tamarind, ukwesu ; tree,
mlcwesu, pi. mikwesu.
Teacher, mjiganyi.
Teaching, majiganyo.
Tear (weeping), lisosi, pi. ma-
sosi.
Teeth, lino, pi. meno ; he has
lost one of his front teeth,
akwete mbenya.
Testicles, liwolodyo.
Thatch, masaJcasa (ga nyu-
mba).
Thief, juawii, pi. wawii ; a
thief who has a medicine to
prevent people's seeing what
he is doing, lusemba.
Thigh, lichiga,\>\. machiga ;
chiwalo, pi. iwalo.
Thing, chindu, pi. indu.
Thirst, njota.
Thorn, rtvwiwa, pi. miiira.
Thought, mag a nyisyo.
Thread, Iv/pota; to sew with.
hi Icutotela.
Throat, likolomiho, pi. maho-
lomiho ; peholomiho ; wind
pipe, mtasi wa likolomiho.
Throne, chitengo cha aclti-
>n icene.
Thumb, or great toe, chala
cha chikongo ; chikongo, \A.
ikongo.
Thunder, chihuhwmo, pi. iku-
humo.
Ticks, likupe, pi. makupe;
in houses, mbuu ; dog ticks,
mbapani.
Time, makati ; at this time.
sai iioi?io.
Tip, chisonga, pambesi.
Toad, ligumi, pi. magumi.
Tobacco, sona.
To-day, lelo.
Toe, chala, (cha likongolo),]A.
yala.
To-morrow, malaici ; day after
to-morrow, mtondo ; after
that, mkucha ; after that.
mtondogola ; day still fu-
ture, awowo.
Tongue, lulimi, pi. ndimi;
tongues of flame, lilamba.
Tooth, lino, pi. meno ;
grinder, lijengo,\)\. majengo.
See Teeth.
Top, inbesi,linani (?), penani.
kuinani.
Torch, lumuli, pi. mitli.
Tortoise, ngong'o; water tor-
toise, lipxji, pi. mapiiji.
Town, musi, pi. misi.
Trade, malonda.
Tr&der, juakusalila malonda.
Trap, cliitopole, pi. itopole ;
of ropes, lukonji; small
made with a calabash, chi-
poto ; pitfall, lisimo, pi.
inn si did; a large stone which
falls, liliwa, pi. maliwa.
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
29
Travellei", mlendo, pi. lealendo.
Tribe, lukosyo, pi. ngosyo ;
tribal mark, nembo. Tbe
Yao mark is two short pa-
rallel lines {nembo siwili).
Troubles, masaicko.
Trousers, mivenjilo, pi. mie-
njilo.
Trumpet (born), lipenga, pi.
mapenga.
Trunk (of a tree), lisiki, pi.
masiki ; fallen, mkungul/t,
pi. mikungulu.
Twig, ndechetu.
Udder, liwele.
Uncle, atati wa nandi, lisi-
ngasi, asiwani.
Understanding, malango.
Unity, umpepe.
Urine, makwesho.
Utensil, chilingo, pi. ilingo.
Vagabond, mtianga ; a run-
away, jua kunyenyela.
Vertebra, chiivisya, pi. iwi-
sya ya mgongo.
Vexation, uchlmwa.
Virgin, mwali ; juangamicina
unyago ; nganaive mukwika
mwali hayawo ; icangaina
unyago (?).
Vulture, litumbusi, pi. matu-
mbusi.
Wages, chilongwe, mbote.
Waist, chiiviliivili.
Wall, lipiipa, pi. mapupa.
Want, masako.
War, ngondo.
Warmth, mtukutu, lioto.
Warrior, chisongolo.
Wart, stisua.
Washerman, msaula nguo.
Water, mesi.
Water-jar, luulo, pi. nyulo ;
large, liulo, pi. maulo.
Way, litala.
Wax, lipula.
Weaver, mgomba likamambo.
Weeping, chilllo.
Well, chisima ; stream, lu-
sulu.
West, kulikuswela Una.
Whetstone, chinolo, pi. inolo;
linolelo, pi. manolelo.
Whirlwind, chlmbunga.
Whistling, lioisi.
White ants, ucheche ; luche-
clie, pi. njeche ; in the fly-
ing stage, mgwimbi. See
Anthill.
Whiteness, uswele.
Widow, juaivilile.
Wife, asono.
Wild overgrown place, mbagu,
pi, mibagu.
Wits, mate.
Work, masengo.
Wrinkle, sinia.
Wrist, kisukusuku (joint).
Yam, lipeta, pi. mapeta ; liji-
mbi, pi. majimbi.
Yarn, lupota.
Year, chaka, pi. yaka ; last
3
(30
LIST OF SUBSTANTIVES.
year, chaka chichipitechile;
before last, chaka chikala ;
ten years ago, chaka. cha-
kit mala likumi.
Yesterday, liso ; day before,
lijusi; day before that, li-
jusi a file.
Youth, msongolo, pi. ivasongo-
lo (lad) ; usongolo (age).
Zanzibar, Mwisi Lunguju.
Zebra, mbunda.
ADJECTIVES.
The general rule in regard to the agreement of Ad-
jectives with their Substantives is that they take the
same initial syllable, interposing the particle -a with
its appropriate initial consonant. Thus -kulungwa,
great, becomes —
I. Mundit jua mkulimgiva, a great man.
Wandu wa wakulungwa, great people.
II. Mfela tva ukulungwa, a great tree.
Mitela ja mikulungwa, great trees.
III. Nyumba ja ngulungwa, a great house.
Nyumba sya ngulungwa, great houses.
IV. Chlndu cha cMkulungwa, a great thing.
Inda ya ikidungwa, great things.
V. Lisimba lia Ukulungwa, a great lion.
Masimba ga makulungwa, great lions.
VI. Lungioi lua lukulungwa, a great piece of tire-
wood.
Ngici sya ngulungwa, great pieces of fire-
wood.
VII. Kapawala ka kakulungwa, a large gazelle.
Tupawala twa lukulungiva, large gazelles.
VIII. Pandu pa pakulungioa, a great place, or
great places.
32 ADJECTIVES.
The Adjective follows its Substantive : -ose, all,
-mpepe, single, and -ue, other, have initial letters
varying according" to the rule for Pronouns, and not
as Adjectives.
The regular Adjectives are very few; their places
are supplied by the use of Verbs, Substantives, and
Adverbs preceded by the particle -a, or by Verbs
denoting the possession of such and such qualities.
LIST OF ADJECTIVES.
Where the Yao word begins with a hyphen the proper initial
letters have to be supplied.
Acute, -a Tcukalamuka.
Agreeable : to be agreeable,
kukotopa ; the house is
agi-eeable, nyumba jikuko-
topa ; to please, kusalala ;
a beautiful house, nyumba
ja ngoto.
Alike, chalume, mating a pe.
Alive, mjumi, jua chiwela.
All, -ose ; every one, -ose pe ;
wandu wose, mitela jose,
indu yose, tupawala twose,
masimba gose, ngici syose,
nyumba syose, pandu pose.
Alone, mivakemwake pe, ji-
kape.
Ancient, -a katasipe ; an
ancient town, must tea
katasipe.
Bad : (hateful) mchimtca ;
not good, juangalumbana ;
mundti juavgalumbana ;
wandu toangalumbana ; ya-
kulia yangalumbana ; ny-
umba jangalumbana ; not
pleasing, juangasalala ; to
be old and worn out, kusa-
kala; nyumba jisake/e;
nyumba sisakele; to go had,
kunyakala ; yakulia ya-
kunyakala.
Bare, pe. See Empty, Naked.
Beautiful, -koto. Mundu jua
mkoto ; wandu ica wakoto.
Mtela wa ukoto ; mitela ja
jikoto. Chindu cha chikoto.
Nyumba sya ngoto. Kumoa
ku ukoto. To please, kusa-
lala ; mundu asalele ;
chindu chisalele.
Black, -pilyuu ; to be black,
ku pilila. Mundu jua
mpiJyuu, or juakupilila ;
wandu wa wapilyuu.
Mtela wa mpilyuu ; mi-
tela ja mipilyuu. Busi
ja mbilyuu ; busi sya mbi-
lyuu. Kaanache ka ka-
pilyuu ; twanache twa
tupilyuu. Lisimba lia
lipilyuu ; masimba ga ma-
pilyuu.
Blind: without eyes, jua nga I i
mesa; he does not see, jua-
ngalola ; his eye is put out,
atuswiche.
Blunt, it does not cut, changa-
tema.
■'A
LIST OF ADJECTIVES.
Bold, -a kisongolo, wandw wa
kisongolo ; without fear,
juangali uoga.
Born, awelelechwe ; unborn,
wangaioelechwa.
Both, wose wawili, gose ga-
wili, Sfc. Sfc
Broad, cha mchitipa ; how
broad is it ? Chitipacho uli
chipali ? broad leaves, ma-
samba ga makulungioa.
Cheap : not difficult, changa-
nonopa ; if it is cheap we
will buy it, if it is dear we
will not buy it, ikanonope
je kutusume, na inonopaga
ngatusuma.
Clean : white, woswele pe; with-
out dirt, wangali iswani;
jangali litaka ; to be clean,
Icusuejela.
Clear, to be open, ku uguka ;
to be light, kit languJca.
Clever : he has understanding,
jua na malango ; he soon
understands, jua ku ma-
nyilila ; not to be green,
ku kalambuka.
Cold, mhepo ; it is always cold
there in the evening, akoko
yose yaha mhepo chilo.
Considerate// Z'« letijela m tima .
Content, mt'ima woswele [«'«
uswele] ; whatever I have I
am content, mungolele mose
mt'tma woswele.
Cowardly, jua uoga.
Deaf : he hears not, juanga-
pilik'ana ; his ears are
stopped, gasiwile mapili-
Tcany'do.
Deaf and dumb, wuu.
Dear, it is hard to get, cha-
kunonopa.
Deceased, ajenda.
Deep, to go (down) much, ku~
jendesya ; the pit which is
dee\),lisi)nbo li liajendesya.
Deformed, jualemele ; it is
not good to laugh at the de-
formed, angasalala kuwa-
seka walemele ; to be dis-
torted, as a limb out of
shape, kuindimala ; who
has an arm he cannot
straighten, juaindimele
mkono ; he has no power
over his arm, mkono uteme-
che.
Different, jumo jumo ; chimo
chimo ; limo limo, Sfc, Sfc.
Distant, kutaliche, pataliche.
Mundujua taliche; nyumba
sya taliche. Lisimba lia
taliche; masimbaga taliche.
Double, kuwili; the paper is
double, chikalata china
kuwili.
Dry, -jumu ; mtela tea ujumu;
chilambo cha chi jumo ; the
river has dried and the bed
is cracked b}r the sun, lusulo
lugasilc; dried meat, nyama
ja nyumu ja kicanika na
liua.
Dumb : he speaks not, jua'
ngawelecheta ; wuu.
LIST OF ADJECTIVES.
35
Each, (one by one), jumo
jiono, Sfc.
Eas}', -a chitema ; work soon
done, masengo ga chitema ;
not hard, masengo ganga-
nonopa.
Eloquent, jua kupawelechete-
sya.
Empty (without any thing),
ngali chindu ; empty water
jar, luulu luangali chindu;
empty house, nyumha
jangali chindu.
Equal, chahime, malinga pe;
to make equal, kutenda
iyoyo.
Every, -ose ; mundu juose ;
nyumha jose. Whichever it
shall be: — the man, mundu
ju tawe juose; the goat,
mbusi ji tijiive jose ; the
lion, lisimba li tiliwe Hose.
Any sort of house, muji-
tvele nyumha.
False, falsehood, unami ;
false words, mawelecheto
ga unami; I will tell no
lies (make no falsehood),
nga n den de u n a m i.
Fat, to grow fat (of beasts),
kunakana ; (of men) kuji-
mhala.
Female, -kongwc, wandu wa
wakongice, mbusi ja jiko-
ngwe, or ngongice, mhusi
sya ngongice, or sikongwe.
A she-hyaena, litunu Ha
likongice ; lionesses, masi-
mba ga makongive.
Few, to be few, kunandupa ;
the people who followed me
were few, wandu wa anga-
gwile anandwipe.
Fierce, fierceness, ukali ; mu-
ndu jua ukali; wandu
wa ukali; lisimba lia
u kali.
Fine, -koto ; fine houses, nyu-
mha sya ngoto.
Foolish: foolish people, wandu
wakulolwela ; to be foolish,
kulolwela.
Free, jua mlukosyo.
Fresh, -wisi; fresh water, mesi
gakusisima ; a new slave,
mkapolo jua mivisi ; new
rice, mpunga wa uicisi ; a
fresh thing, chindu cha chi-
wisi; new houses, nyumha
sya mbisi ; new millet,
mapemha ga maioisi ; raw
meat, nyama ja jiwisi, or
mbisi, likuta lia liicisi.
Full: to be full, kugumbala ;
the water is up to the top,
mesi gagumbele ; it is half-
full of water, mesi gali-
tika.
Good, goodness, mbone. Mu-
ndu jua mbone; wandu
wa mbone. Chindu cha
mbone; indu ya mbone.
JJpamba tea mbone; ma-
ganga ga mbone. Kaana-
che ka mbone. To covet
is not gcod, kusuka ngati
kwambone.
36
LIST OF ADJECTIVES.
Gratuitous, (gratis) lulele. In-
du ya lulele.
Great, -kulungwa. See the
observations prefixed to this
section.
Green, (leaf-colour) upilile wa
masamba.
Grown \va,jua mkulungwa.
Happy, to be — Ten sachelela,
k u litogolela, k u line ny el a .
Hard, unonono, mtela unono-
no, maganga unonono.
Harmless : who does nothing,
juanga\rn\tenda ; which
does not hurt, changa\m~\lu-
ma.
Having, -siene, mundu msiene
machili ; wandu tvasiene,
Sfc. Limsimba lisiene, Sfc.
Masimba gasiene, Sfc, Lu-
Iconji lusiene, Sfc.
Healthy, -jnmi ; mundu jua
mjumi, mbusi sya nyumi ;
to be healthy, kuchangala-
mana ; people having good
health, wandu wasiene ku-
changal aniana.
Heavy, (weight) us'ito; a heavy
burden, mtumhola wa iisito;
heavy burdens, mitambola
ja usito ; to be heavy, Jcusi-
topa.
High, (up) kuinani; this tree
is tall, it will surpass that
one, av mtela u tijeslle kui-
nani, tuupunde aula.
Hoarse, lilowe lisoicile ; to
become hoarse, kusowa ku
xoelecheta.
Hollow: the tree is hollow,
mtela una mbuku; the stone
is hollow, U gang a Una mbu-
ku; the stone sounds hollow,
liganga likugungulila.
Honest, his heart is straight,
he is an honest man, mtima
wakwe ugolweehe.
Hot, (heat) onoto ; hot water,
mesi ga moto ; hot iron, ki-
siana cha moto ; the body
is very warm, pachiilu pa-
chiite motomotope.
Idle, idleness, ulesi; he is
idle, ajujuna ulesi.
Immortal (he does not die),
ngauiva.
Impossible : to be possible,
kukomboleka ; this work is
impossible, masengo agaga-
ngakomboleka.
Incorporeal, angali chiilu ; he
has no body, he is spirit
only, juangali chiilu, mti-
ma pe usigele.
Insincere, (his heart is not
straight), angagoloka mti-
ma.
Irrational, angali malango ;
he has no sense, he is like
an ox, juangali malango,
ampelaga ng'ombe.
Jealous, jealousy, wiuu.
Just (he errs in nothing),
ngapagwa chakulwisye.
LIST OF ADJECTIVES.
37
Last, cha mbesi, cha kumali-
chisya.
Lean, to become lean, ku.ga-
nda ; a man who is lean,
mundu jit agandile.
Least, chinandipe.
Less : they are less, isapwile.
Light (not heavy) : to be light,
kujaluka, or kwaluka; a
light gun, idija kwaluka ;
this burden is light, «h mta-
mbola una kwaluka ; (not
dark) : to be light, kulangu-
ka ; this house is light, nyu-
mba jia jikulanguka.
Like, m-pelaga, malinga.
Little, -nandi, mundu jua
mnandi. Lisimba lia Ivtia-
n di ; m a sim ba ga m a nan di.
Nyumba jajirtandi; nyu-
mba sya sinandi.
Living, jua mjumi, jua mtu-
■ndu.
Long, -leu, mundu jua mleu;
wandu wa walettr. Lusinga
lua luleu; sing a sya ndeu.
A long way, litala lia
hutalika ; a short way,
litala lia liuna.
Loud : a loud voice. HI owe lia
likulungwa.
Low, pasi; a low place, panda
pa pasi.
Lukewarm, Hoto, mesi gana
lioto.
Mad: he is mad, ana masoka;
mad people, achasiene maso-
ka.
Male, -lume, wandu wa wa-
lume; mbusi ja jilumc.
m bit si- sya ndurne; lisvmba
lia I Hume, masimba ga ma-
lum e.
Manifest, mawelecheto gapelc-
te.
Man}-, -jinji. See Substan-
tives. To be many, kutupa,
or kuehuluka ; there were
formerly many people, wa-
ndu kcttasipe achulwiche.
or atupile.
Mild, jua kulenjela.
Moist, mesimesi.
More : to exceed, kupunda ;
it is more, chipundile.
Naked, matakope (?) ; with
nothing in his hands, miko-
n ope.
Narrow, chilenje; very narrow,
kalenje; a slim man, mundu
jua chilenje; a narrow path,
litala lia kalenje.
Near (not far off), pang 'atali-
ka ; he has approached, i.e..
he is near, aju aicandichilc.
New, -a sambauo. See Fresh.
Nyumba ja sambauo, nyit-
mba sya samba no.
Old, -a kalakala, nyumba ja
kalakala; nyumba sya ka-
lakala ; to become old and
worn out, kusakala, or ku-
wisala ; aged, -chekulu,
mundu jua rhchekulu; wa-
ndu wa wachekulu. List-
38
LIST OF ADJECTIVES.
mba lia lichehulu ; masi-
mba ga machehulu.
Other, -ne. Mundujine ; wa-
ndu wane. Mtela une ;
mitela jine. Chindu chine;
Indu inc. Kaanache home;
twanache tune. Lisimba
line; mashnba gane. Lu-
ngwi lune; ngwi sine. Nyu-
mba jine; nyumba sine.
Pandupdne. Other people's
houses, nyumba sya wandu;
some one else's house, nyu-
mba j a msiene.
Patient, jua hulenjcla.
Plain, -a mbelete.
Poor, ganaJcola chindu; jua-
ngali chindu.
Possible, it is possible, Jciq>a-
hombola.
Pregnant, jua Tcujigala chi-
ndamba, or ehitumbo.
Prudent, msiene ilingo.
Pure, without dirt, pangali
mataJca ; only good, cha-
mbonepe.
Quarrelsome,/«« uwanga.
Quiet, msiene malcujelo, or
hulenjela.
Ready, chili, chili chili.
Ped, -chejeu, mundujua mche-
jeu ',; wandu tea wachejeu.
Chindu, cha chichejeu ; nyu-
mba sia njejeu. To become
red, kuchejela ; they are
red, achejele.
Reeling, lusiungusiungu.
Remote, kutalika ; it is re-
mote, pataliche, panaula
(contemptuous).
Rich, asiene ipanji; he has got
goods, ahwete chipanji.
Right, mwambone.
Righteous, jua mwambone,
jua mJcoto mtima.
Rotten, -uole; to rot, hu ola ;
mitela jijuole ; chindu cha
chuole ; indu j a iuole ; nyu-
mba si uole ; manyasi ga
manole.
Sad: grave, maganyiganyi ;
cross, mehimica ; I pity my-
self, ngulitendela chanasi.
Safe : there is no fear, panga-
jogopa ; there is no danger,
pangapwelela.
Secret, ya h'usisa ; these are
secret (atfairs), agaga ga
leusisa ; private, mtemela ;
people have not heard (it),
yangapiliJcana wandu.
Sharp: to cut, Jcutema; a sharp
knife, chipula chi ohikute-
ma ; a sharp sword, lupa-
nga lu lukutema.
Sbort, -/'ipi. Mundujua mji-
pi ; wandu tea toajipi.
Mgoji ujipi ; nyumba sya
nyvpi.
Sicli,-lwele. Mundajua mhrr-
Ic ; wandu tea walwele.
Lisimba lia lilwele; masi-
LIST OF ADJECTIVES.
39
mbaga malwele. Mbusi sya
n dwele.
Silent, jua kumialala.
Sincere, the heart is straight,
ultima tigolweche.
Single, -mpepe ; mundu ju-
mpepe; nyumba jimpepe;
lisimba Umpepe.
Small. See Little, -iiandi,du-
nandipe; mundu jua mna-
11 di pe.
Smooth : to be smooth, kule-
petala ; nguo ja kulepete-
la. Kukoloivana, litvnji
liakolowana.
Soft, kujolowa ; soft mud, ma-
tope ga gajohoewe.
Some, ju mo jumo ; wane wane.
Sour : to turn sour, kuwipa ;
it is sour, chiwipile.
Speechless, deaf and dumb,
wuu; mundu jua liwuu ;
twanache twa tuicuu ; nya-
ma sya wuu ; which speaks
not, changawelecheta.
Spotted, akwete mawala.
Stout, -a kukapa; wandii
wa kukapa ; ngonji sya ku-
kapa.
Straight : to become straight,
kugoloka ; my stick is
straight, ngolumbe jangu
jigolweche.
Strange, -lendo. Mundu jua
mlendo ; wandu wa voale-
iido. Chimin cha chilendo ;
'nnlu ya ilendo.
Strong, msiene moduli ; -a
kali mb a ; a strong man,
mundu jua kulimba; strong
goats, mbusi sya kulimba ;
a strong rope, lukonji lua
kulimba.
Stupid, -lowelu ; mundu jua
mlowelu ; twanache twa tu-
lowelu.
Sweet: to be sweet, ku nong'a ;
chindu diikunong'a ; mesi
gakunong'a ; udii ukuno-
ng'a ; mitela jikunong 'a.
Tall, -leu ; to become tall, kic-
leupa.
Tame, -a kulangioa ; mbusi
sya kulangwa.
Tenacious, indu inyambatena.
Thick, kukula ; very thick,
kukapa ; lukonji lukuku-
la, or lukukapa.
Tight : to be tight, kulimbi-
lila ; it is tied tight, itawi-
che yenonono.
Uneven, yangalingana ; an
uneven road, litala lile-
mele.
Unhappy, juangali chiseko ;
juangasangalala.
Unintentionally, ganatenda
inele ; ganagwa wa mele.
Unknown, it is unknowable,
ya nga m a nika n a.
Unpunished, nganamsausya.
Unripe, jongapya ; magombo
gangapya.
Unsafe, pasi ungulidie.
Unwashed, usakira.
Upright : to be straightened,
ku goloka ; to stand up,
ku ima.
2
40
LIST OF ADJECTIVES.
Usual, of years, -a yaka.
Valiant, jiMing aXi uoga.
Various, ineinepe, yangala-
ndana.
Warm, mesi gana mtukuta ;
mesi gana lioto.
Weak, angali marhili.
Wet, mesi mesi ; he is wet, ana
mesi.
White, -swela ; nguojajiswe-
la, nguo sya swela; mu-
ndu jua msivela; lisimba
lia liswela, masamba ga
maswela ; chindu cha <•///'-
swela.
Whole, -ose,- ose pe ; the whole
house, nyumba jose ; the
whole day, Uua Hose.
Wide, chitando. chitipa ; how
wide is it? chitipa chi itnca-
ti uli? a broad path, Ufa la
lia mchitipa; a wide place,
piatikukula.
Young (beardless), -a mcha-
nda.
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.
The comparative degree may be expressed by merely
coupling the things to be compared by putting
na, with, between them :
Achichi cJdnandipe na chilachila, this is merely
little with that, i.e., this is less than that.
Mundu aju jua mkulungwa na ajulajula, this man
is great with that one, i. e., this man is greater
than that.
The verb kupunda, to exceed, may also be used.
The Superlative is expressed by the use of the
adjective in an absolute sense :
Mundu aju jua mhulungwa, this is the great man,
i.e., this is the greatest man.
If the adjective expresses some positive quality, it
may be intensified by adding muno or }muo. If a
negative quality, by adding pe or pe :
Cha chikulungwa 'nmo, very great indeed ; cha chi-
nandi pe, very small ; cha cldnandi pe, ex-
ceedingly small.
e 3
THE NUMERALS.
1, limo.
2, gawili.
3, gatatu.
4, mcheche.
5, msanu.
6, msanu kupambula limo.
7, „ „ „ gawili.
8, „ „ „ gatatu.
9, ,, „ „ mcheche.
10, llkumi.
11, „ kupambula limo.
1G, „ kupambula msanu na limo.
17, „ „ „ na gawili.
20, makumi gaivili.
30, makumi gatatu.
35, makumi gatatu na msanu.
40, makumi mcheche.
70, ma/cumi msanu ku pambula gawili.
78, makumi msanu kupambula gawili na [msanu]
pambula gatatalu.
99, makumi likumi kupungusya limo.
100, makumi likumi, or ligana.
1000, mag ana likumi.
When used as adjectives, mcheche, msanu, and liku-
mi never vary; the rest vary like regular adjectives.
THE NUMERALS. 43
For the changes of limo, one, see the classification
of Substantives.
Mpepe, single, is often used instead of one.
I. Wanclu (two) wawili, (three) watatu, (eight)
msanu na watatu.
II. Mitela (two) jiwili, (three) jitatu, (eight) msanu
na j fat 10.
III. Nj/umba (two) siwili, (three) sitalu, (eight)
msanu na sltatu.
IV. Inclu (two) iwili, (three ) itatu, (eight) msanu
na itatu.
V. Mawago (two) gaioili, (three) gatatu, (eight)
msanu na gatatu.
VI. Mbeta (two) siwili, (three) sitatu, (eight) msanu
na sitatu.
VII. Twanache (two) tuwili, (three) tutatu, (eight)
msanu na tutatu.
VIII. Pandu (two) pawili, (three) palafu, (eight) msanu
na patatu.
Once, twice, &c, are expressed by prefixing ka :
Once, kamo, or kampepe.
Twice, kawili.
Three times, katatu.
Four times, kacheche.
Five times, Icasanu.
Six times, Icasanu Icupamhula kamo.
Seven times, „ kupambula kaivili.
Eight times, „ „ hatatu.
Nine times, „ „ kacheche.
Ten times, kakumi.
44 THE NUMERALS.
First, &c, are denoted by prefixing the particle -a
to the form in Jca :
The second man, mundujua kawili.
The third man, „ „ hatatu.
The fourth man, „ „ kacheche.
S,'c. fyc.
The first man is expressed by jna kutanda.
The last man by jv.a pariyuma} or munyuma.
PRONOUNS.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
The full forms of the personal pronouns are,
I, une, ne, or neju. We, vice, or uweju.
Thou, ugwe} gwe, or gweju. You, iinnre, or mweju.
He or she, aju. They, u'ale, or awala.
It and they, when referring to nouns of other than
the first class, are expressed by the demonstrative
pronouns.
The second and third persons plural are always
used in addressing- or speaking* of an equal or a
superior. The second and third persons singular are
only used in speaking of or to inferiors, as to slaves
or children.
The same forms are used for the objective ease — me,
thee, him, her, us, them. For the possessive case, the
possessive pronouns are employed.
When united to a verb, the personal pronouns are
only employed as distinct words where it is intended
to mark them as emphatic. Both the subjective and
objective cases are generally denoted only by prefixes.
The personal prefixes referring to nouns of the first
class are —
46
PRONOUNS.
Subjective.
Objective.
I n- or ni-
Me
-}!-
Thou 11-
Thee
-kil-
He or she a-
Him or
her -m- or
We tu-
Us
-if«-
You 'm- or *»?<?■
You
-wa-
They a
Them
-wa-
For nouns -of the other classes, the objective and
subjective prefixes are identical, but vary according'
to the class and number :
Class
It
II.
u-,
-u-
III.
Ji->
j*-
IV.
ch i-
■, -ehi-
V.
ii-,
-li-
VI.
III-,
-ln-
VII.
ka-.
, -ka-
inn.
pa-
, -pa-
They or
them
Jl->
-J>-
?-. -
-si-
■i-
ga-,
-ga-
si-,
-si-
hi-,
-hi-
pa-.
, -pa-
Ku- is used as a prefix in an indefinite sense, an-
swering* to our pronoun there, in such phrases as, there
is, or there was.
The following examples will show how the sub-
jective prefixes appropriate to the various classes are
employed in connexion with the verb -givile, the past
tense of kugwa, to fall down :
II. Mtela ugwile ; mitela jigwile.
III. Nyumha jigwile ; nyumba sigwile.
IV. Chimin chi girt I <• ; iiulu igwile.
V. Lisimba Ugwile ; masimba gagwile.
VI. Lungwi lug wile ; ngivi sigwile.
VII. Kanache kagwile ; twanache I ugwile.
PltONOUNS. 47
VIII. Pandit pagwile.
IX. Kugwile, there has fallen down.
The following- examples will show the use of the
subjective and objective prefixes, referring- to persons :
N-a-ku-litlile , I told thee.
JF-a-m-lulile, thou toldest him.
A-n-dulile, he told me.
Tw-a-wa-lulile, we told you.
Mw-a-wa-lulile, you told them.
A-tu-lulile, they told us.
In the third person singular and plural, where the
sign of the tense begins with a, it absorbs the sign
of the person, so that in effect one a serves for both.
The changes worked by the -u-, which denotes the
first person, are often very puzzling, it has in the
above instances turned the I of the verb into d.
Sometimes it becomes itself m, and then is liable to
be confounded with the objective prefix denoting the
third person singular ; it is, however, generally dis-'
tinguishable by the change it works in the first letter
of the verb. Thus, from kitpufa, to beat, amputile is,
he beat him, and ambioiile is, he beat me. There is
beside the difference that m, when it represents mu,
may be treated as a syllable in itself; whereas m,
when it represents n, merely modifies the sound of the
b which follows it.
The objective prefixes relating to things must be
used whenever the object of the verb is a definite
thing, as where Ave in English should express the
object by the pronouns it or them ; or should use the
definite article with the name of the object :
48 PRONOUNS.
NgusaJca nyumba, I want a house.
Ngujisaka nyumba, I want the house.
NgujisaJca nyumba ajl, I want this house.
Ngujisaka nyumba ajino, I want this very house.
The objective prefix must always be placed imme-
diately before the verb ; the subjective prefix is
generally the first of all; but in some cases the tense
prefix precedes it.
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS.
The initial letters of the possessive pronouns vaiy
according- to the class of the thing- possessed. The
invariable parts are —
My, -avfja. Our, -etn.
Thy, -alco. Your, -enu.
His, her, or its, -aJcwe. Their, -ao.
The changes of the initial letters of -angu, my, will
show the necessary forms throughout, as the initial
letters would be the same for any other pronoun :
I. Mvndu juangu ; wandn wangu.
II. Mtela /rung ii ; mi tela jui/gu.
III. Nyumba jangu; nyumba siangu.
IV. Chindu changu ; indu, yangu.
V. Liwago liangu ; mawago gangu.
VI. Lungvn huuigu ; ngwi siangu.
VII. Kapavalit kaugu ; tupawala twangu.
VIII. Pandu jjangu.
IX. Kuuwa kicangu.
PRONOUNS. 49
There are shorter forms sometimes used :
My, -ngu ; mivanangu, my child, for mwana wangu.
Thy, -go.
His, hers, or its, -gwe ; atdti gwe, his father.
Their, -gwao ; mwanagwao, their child.
Alambwao = alamujuao, their brother-in-law.
My own, his own, &c, are expressed by adding- a
syllable taken from the personal or demonstrative
pronoun to the regular possessive form :
My own, wangune. Our own, wetuive.
Thine own, wakowe. Your own, wenvmwe.
His, her, or its own, Their own, tvaoule.
%oalcweu.
REFLECTIVE PRONOUNS.
The Yao verb is made reflective by inserting- the
syllable -li- as an objective prefix :
Ngunenyela, I like.
Ngulinenyela, I like myself.
Self may be expressed by mtima, heart.
Une mtima wangu, I my own self.
Where self is employed chiefly to give emphasis to
the personal pronoun it is expressed by adding- -pano :
Nepano, I myself. Uivepano, we ourselves.
Wepano, thou thyself. Mwepano, you yourselves.
Apano, he himself, &c. Apano, they themselves.
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS.
There are five demonstrative pronouns formed by
joining syllables which vary according- to the class of
the noun with syllables which determine the nature
of the pronoun :
v
50
PRONOUNS.
1. A-, this, of something* near at hand.
2. A-la, that, referring' to something- at a distance.
3. A-no, this one here, a more specific word.
4. A-o-o, this, or that, before mentioned.
5. -e -le, referring to what is no longer visible.
1.
2.
3.
4.
I. Mundu,
aju,
ajula,
ajino,
ajojo.
Wandu,
awa,
aioala,
awauo,
awowo.
II. Mtela,
au ,
aula,
auno,
aoo.
Mitela,
aj'h
ajila,
ajino,
ajojo.
III. Ngumba,
®jh
ajila,
ajino,
ajojo.
Nyumba,
a si,
aslla,
asino,
asyosyn.
IV. CMndu,
achl,
a cli ila,
achiuo,
achocho.
Indu,
a?,
aila,
aino,
ayoyo.
V. Liwago,
alt,
alila,
alino,
alolo.
Mawago,
aga,
a gal a,
agano,
agogo.
VI. Lungwi,
alu,
alula,
alu no,
alolo.
Kgwi,
asl,
asila,
asino,
asyosyo.
VII. Kapawala,
aha,
akala,
aha no,
akoko.
Tupawala,
atu,
atula,
atu no,
atoto.
VIII. Pandu,
apa,
apa la,
apano,
apopo.
The fifth form
is made b)r a soi
t of double demon
strative before and after
the noun
I. Jue mundu jule ; we wandu wale.
II. We mtela ule ; je mi tela jile.
III. Je nyumba jile ; sye myumba site.
IV. Che chindii chile ; ye indu He.
V. Le liwago Ule ; ge maicago gale.
VI. Lwe lungwi lule ; sye ngivi side.
VII. Ke kapawala hale ; live tupawala tule.
VIII. Pe pandu pale.
\
PKONOUNS. 51
The demonstrative pronouns are very frequently
doubled, as ajulajula, yonder man, awalawala, those
people, achichl, this thing-.
The usual place of a demonstrative is after the
noun, as miela an, this tree ; but it may be put before
the noun, and then the variable part is repeated
after it.
Aju munduju ; au miela u.
AcM chindu c/d.
The general demonstratives here and there, are
apala, here, and alciila, there.
There is a sort of demonstrative with the meaning,
this is the one, it is this, here is the place, &c. Its
forms for the several classes are as follows :
I. Jueleju, welewo.
II. Welewo, jelejo.
III. Jelejo, syelesyo.
IV. Ckelecho, yeleyo.
V. Lielelio, gelego.
VI. Lwelelo, syelesyo.
VII. Kaleko, tweleto.
VIII. Pelepo, this is the place.
IX. Kweleko, there is the place.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
The relatives who, whom, and which, are repre-
sented by the syllables which occur as the variable
parts of the first demonstrative :
I. ju, wa. IV. c/d, i. VII. ha, in.
II. u,ji. V. II, ga. VIII. pa.
III. ;i, si. VI. In., si.
F %
5:2 pronouns.
The man who likes thee, mundu ju akukunyenyela.
The man who likes him, mundu ju akumnyenyela.
The man who wanted it, mundu ju asac/iile cho.
The house which fell down, nyumba ji ji gwile.
The lion which will come, lisi/nba li tiliiche.
The knife which cut him, chipula chamsikite cho.
The man whom I love, mundu ju ngumnyenyela.
The man whom he loves, mundu ju akumnyenyela.
The tree which we saw, mtela u tuwene u.
The thing which he wants, chindu chi akusaka cho.
The relative may be repeated after the verb, and in
this case in the fourth class we have cho instead of chi.
When joined with the verb to be it must be re-
membered that there are different forms employed,
determining' whether mere existence or the being in
a place are denoted, and in regard to place whether
it is near, far off, or within any thing. These dis-
tinctions are very rarely marked in English.
Which is (exists) : —
I. alina, walina. IV. chilina, Ulna.
II. ulina,jilina. V. lilina,galina.
III. jilina, silina. VI. lulina, silina.
VII. kalina, lulina.
VIII. pa Una.
IX. kulina.
Which is (inside) : —
I. amuli, wamu/i. IV. chimuli, imuli.
II. umuli, jimuli. V. limuli, g amuli.
III. jimuli, simuli. VI. famuli, simuli.
VII. hamuli, tumuli.
VIII. p amuli.
IX. kumuli.
PRONOUNS. 53
Which is (here) : —
I. apali, wapali. IV. chipali, ipali.
II. upali, jipali. V. lipaU, gapali.
III. jipali, sipali. VI. lupali, sipali,
VII. kapali, tupali.
VIII. papali.
IX. kupali.
"Which is (there) : —
I. akuli, wakuli. IV. chikuli, ilurfi.
II. ukuli, jihdi. V. likuli, gakuli.
HE. jikuli, sikuli. VI. lukuli, sikuli.
VII. kakuli, t akuli.
VIII. j»a£if#.
IX. kukuli.
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS, ETC.
Who ? ache.ni ? wani ?
What? ofciobV
What is the matter? kuna chichi?
What thing"? chin (hi chi ?
What man ? mundu chi ?
What house ? nyumba chi ?
When ? chahache ?
Which ? -pi ?
Which man? mundu juapi ? Which people? wandu
wupi ?
Which tree? mtcla uapi ? Which trees? mtelajapi/
Which house? nyumba japi ? Which houses ? nyumba
siapi ?
f 3
54 PRONOUNS.
Which thing? chindu chipi ? Which things? indu
ipi ?
Which axe ? llwago liapi ? Which axes ? mawago
gapi ?
Which piece of wood ? lusasu luapi ? Wliich tire-
wood ? sasu siapi ?
Which gazelle ? kapawala Jcapi ? Which gazelles ?
tupawala twapi ?
Which place or places? panda papi ?
Where ? kwapi ?
Where is he? juli kwapi? Where are they ? wall
faoapi ?
Where is it?
II. Uli I kwapi ? V. Lili kwapi?
III. Jili kwapi ? VI. Lnli kwapi ?
IV. Chili kwapi ? VII. Kali kwapi ?
VIII. Pali kwapi ?
IX. Kali kwapi ?
Where are they ?
II. Jili kwapi ? V. Gali kwapi ?
III. Sili kwapi ? VI. Sill kwapi ?
IV. Hi kwapi ? VII. Tuli kwapi?
Where do you come from ? kwapi mkutioka ?
Where do these things come from? ai kwapi itiosile '
How ? uli ?
How do you like it ? mkn [It] wona uli ?
How shall I get it? tin[ji]kole uli ?
How will you get it? tim\chi\kole uli ?
PRONOUNS. 0 0
How many ?
I. Walingwa? IV. Ilingwa?
II. Jilingwa ? V. Galingwa ?
III. Siling w a ? VI. Siting w a ?
VII. Tulingwa?
VIII. Palingwa ?
How often ? kalingwa ?
How tall is he? o/w ftfew e/^Y [this man height
what] .
Whoever, ^ juose.
Whatever house, vijumha ji jose.
Whoever the man shall be, munduju tawejose.
Whichever the goat shall be, mbusiji tyiwejose.
Whatever they do to him, i tamtende gose.
Whenever he sleeps, pakugona pose.
Such a one, such a thing, such and such people, &c.,
-alakive, with the appropriate prefix.
Such a man, j u a la /ace.
Such and such houses, syalakwe.
VERBS.
Yao verbs always end in -a in their simplest form.
The simplest form standing- alone is the singular of
the imperative, as in English :
Tencla ! do ! J aula ! go away !
Jisa ! come !
The person and most of the tenses are denoted by
varying prefixes. There is a negative as well as an
affirmative conjugation.
It must be borne in mind, in using or construing
Yao verbs, that the plural of the second and third
persons is always employed instead of the singular,
where no special inferiority in the person addressed
or spoken of is meant to be implied.
In most verbs beginning with a vowel a /- seems
to be prefixed or not, without any difference of
meaning, as if merely to facilitate the pronunciation.
THE INFINITIVE.
The infinitive is made by prefixing leu- to the
simplest form of the verb :
Kutenda, to do. Kuaula or kujaula, to go away.
Kuisa or Icujisa, to come.
VERBS. 57
The infinitive may always be used as a substantive
answering- to the English verbal in -ing :
Kutenda, doing-. Kuaula, going away.
Kuisa, coming. Kuuwa, dying.
The infinitive may be prefixed to other parts of the
verb to intensify its meaning :
Kuogopa nguogopa, fearing I fear, i.e., I fear
exceedingly.
INDICATIVE MOOD.
Present Tense :
The present tense is formed by prefixing the sign of
the person to the infinitive. The sign of the first
person being the letter »-, it changes the initial k-
of the infinitive into -g-:
N-gu-tenda, I do.
TJ-ku-tenda, thou dost.
A-ku-tenda, he or she does.
TJ-ku-tenda, ji-ku-tenda, chi-kn-tenda, li-ku-
tenda, lu-ku-ienda, ka-ku-tenda, pa-kv-
ienda, it does.
Ta-ku-tenda, we do.
M-ku-tenda , you do.
A-ku-ienda, they do.
Ji-kn-tenda, si-ku-tenda, i-ku-fenda, ga-ku-
tenda, tu-ku-tenda, they do.
There is also a tense made by using -pa- instead of
-ku-. Its meaning is that it is in the nature of the
person or thing to be or to do what the verb denotes.
58 VERBS.
The n- of the first person makes instead of n-jia-,
mba-:
Ahuguluka (he is actually flying\ he flies.
Apaguluka (he is naturally able to fly), he flies.
Apakombola (he has natural ability for), he can.
AhuTcombola (he is actually able to) he can.
Present Perfect :
The present perfect answering1 to the English tense
made with have, is formed by prefixing- the sign of the
person to the simplest form of the verb, and modifying-
the termination. The n- of the first person changes
the initial consonant of a great many verbs, and the
changes of termination are so varied and intricate,
that it is necessary in the vocabulary to add to every
verb the first person singular of the present perfect,
by the help of which all the other persons can be
formed without difficulty, as in them the consonant
of the verb resumes its original form, and the ter-
mination is the same as that given for the first
person. Thus tenda, do, gives :
N-desile, I have done.
U-fesile, thou hast done.
Atesile, he has done.
U-tesile, jl-tesile, chi-tesUe, li-tesile, lu-(esile
ka-tesile, pa-tesile, it has done.
Tu-lesile, we have done.
M-tesile, ye have done.
A-tesile, they have done.
Ji-tesile, sl-lesile, i-tes'de, ga-tesile, tu-tesile,
they have done.
VERBS.
59
The nature of the change in the termination is
exceedingly difficult to describe,, it is much more
easily felt than expressed.
It will be useful to remember that verbs in -amn
and -ana make their present perfects in -erne and -enc,
and that where the vowels of the last two syllables
are -o- and -a-, the present perfect generally makes
them -we- and -e, while where the last two vowels
are -u and -a, the present perfect makes them -wi-
and -<?. The following are a few specimens :
Kutama, to sit.
KajiliJcana, to love one
another.
Kujogopa, to fear.
Kujoahda, to split.
Kukwela, to climb.
Kiilola, to look.
Kulcola, to get.
Kufaga, to put.
Kut ula, to push.
K/iika, to arrive.
Ku/canisya, to prohibit.
Knkusya, to make larger
Kupalila, to hoe.
Kupa, to give to.
Kiljimbala, to get fat.
hit in e ni) a, to strike.
Knjanga, to answer.
Kuunganya, to bring to-
gether.
Ateme, he has sat.
Ajilikene, they have loved
one another.
Ajogwepe, he has feared.
Apalwile, he has split.
Ahvesile, he has climbed.
Alolite, he has looked.
Akwete, he has gotten.
Atasile, he has put.
Atulile, he has pushed.
Aic/ie, he has arrived.
Akauisi/e,\\Q has prohibited.
Akusisye, he has made
larger.
Aj)ali?e, he has hoed.
Ambele, he has given to me.
Ajimbele, he is fat.
Aiueni/ile, he has struck.
Ajaiijile, he has answered.
Aungenye, he has brought
together.
60 VERBS.
The Past Perfect.
The past perfect is formed from the present perfect
by merely inserting an -a- between the personal prefix
and the verb :
Natesile, I did.
If atesile, thou didst.
Atesile, he or she did.
Watesile, jatesile, ch atesile, lutesile, hcatesile,
kaiesile, patesile, it did.
Twatesile, we did.
Mioatesile, you did.
Atesile, they did.
Jatesile, sy atesile, y atesile, gatesile, twatesile,
they did.
The Past Imperfect.
To form a past imperfect the syllable -ga is added
to the simplest form of the verb, and the personal
sign followed by the vowel -a- is prefixed :
N-a-tenda-ga, I was doing".
W-a-tenda-ga, thou wast doing.
A-tenda-ga, he or she was doing.
Watendaga, jatendaga, chatendaga, latendaga,
Iwatendaga, katendaga,joatendaga, it was
doing.
Tw-a-leuda-ga, we were doing.
Mw-a-tenda-ga, you were doing.
A-tenda-ga, they were doing.
Jatendaga, syatendaga, yatendaga, gatendaga,
iwatendaga, they were doing.
VERBS. Gl
Future Tenses.
There are three future tenses. The first changes
the final vowel of the simple form of the verb into -e
and prefixes ti- followed by the sign of the person :
Ti-n-dende, I shall do.
Ti-u-tende} thou wilt do.
T-a-tende, he or she will do.
Tiutende, tijitende, tichiiende, tllltende, tilu-
tende, tikatcnde, fijxttende, it will do.
Tu-tu-tende, we shall do.
Tl-m-tende, you will do.
T-a-tende, they will do.
Tijitende, tisitende, tiitende, tigatende, tutii-
tende, they will do.
The second future, which seems to express rather
the idea of being about to do something, inserts the
syllable -ha- between the personal prefix and the verb,
in other respects it follows the form of the first
future.
Ti-n-ga-iende, I am about to do.
Ti-u-ku-iende, thou art about to do.
T-a-ka-tende, he or she is about to do.
Tiuhatende, tijihatende, tickikafende, tilika-
/aide, tihikatende, tihahatende, tipa-
Icatende, it is about to do.
Tu-iu-kii-tende, we are about to do.
Ti-m-ba-tende, you are about to do.
T-a-ka-tende, they are about to do.
Tijik ate tide, tisikatende, tiikatende, tigakatende,
tutukatende, they are about to do.
G
62 VEEBS.
The third future differs from the others in leaving
the final vowel unchanged, it is formed by prefixing
the syllable tl-, the sign of the person, and the
syllable -eld-. It refers to a distant future, and
expresses what will happen then :
Ti-n-ji-tenda.
Ti-u-chi-tenda. <
T-a-chi-tenda.
Tiuchitenda, tijichitenda, tichlchitenda , tilichi-
tenda, tiluchitenda, tikachitenda, tipa-
ch itenda.
Tu-tu-chi-tenda.
Ti-m-chi-tenda.
T-a-chi-tenda.
Tijichitenda, tisichitenda, tiichitenda, tigachi-
ienda, tutu chite n da .
THE IMPEKATIVE.
The imperative singular is the simplest form of the
verb :
Tenda ! do ! jaula ! go away ! jisa! come !
The plural is made by adding -ni to the singular,
and is much more commonly employed even in
speaking to a single person.
Tendani ! do ! jaulani ! go away ! jisani! come !
THE SUBJUNCTIVE.
The subjunctive, which is also used as a jussive, is
VERBS. 63
formed by changing the final vowel into -e, and pre-
fixing the signs of the person :
N-dende, that I may do, or, let me do.
U-tende, that thou mayest do.
A-tende, that he or she may do.
Utende,jitende, chitende, litende, lutende, ka-
tende,patende, that it may do.
Tu-tende, that we may do.
M-tende, that you may do.
A-tende, that they may do.
Jitende, sitende, itende, gatende, lutende, that
they may do.
That where it denotes an object or intention, and
and where in English it is used to connect an action
with some preceding action which leads to it, are
expressed by the use of the subjunctive :
Ajise atarne, let him come and sit down.
Conditional Tenses.
There is a tense made by prefixing the sign of the
person followed by the syllable -lea-, and at the same
time suffixing the syllable -ga, which is used to ex-
press a contingency :
N-ga-tenda-ga, I should do, or, have clone.
U-ka-tenda-ga.
A-ha - tenda-ga.
Ukatendaga, jikatendaga, chikatendaga, llka-
tendaga, lukatendaga, kakatendaga,
pakatendaga.
g 2
64 VERBS.
Tu-ka-tenda-ga.
M-ka - ten da -ga .
A-ka-tenda-ga.
Jikatendaga, sikatenaaga, ikatendaga, gaka-
tendaga, tukatendaga.
A. similar tense is formed from the present perfect
by inserting -ka- between the sign of the person and
the verb :
Ngacliite, I should have thought.
Akagulwiche, he would have flown.
Ngakasile, I should have fried.
Another conditional tense is expressed by the use
of kuchiia, to wish, as an auxiliary, followed by the
common definitive particle je, and by the subjunctive
of the principal verb :
Njiteje ndende, I would have done [wished
to do] .
TJcliiieje utende.
Achiteje atende.
Uchiteje vlende, jichiteje jit end e, chick iteje
chiiende, lichiteje Utende, In chiteje lu-
tenTle, kachiicje katende, pachlteje pa-
tende.
Tuchiteje tutende.
Mchiteje mtende.
Achiteje atende.
Jichiteje jitende, sichiteje sitende, ichiteje itende,
gachiteje gatende, tuchiteje tutende.
The having been in a state of readiness is expressed
VEEBS. 65
by prefixing to the above tense, the past tense of the
verb to be :
Naliji njite ndende, I was wishing- to do.
Aliji achiteje atende, he was wishing to do.
The being in a state or in the act of doing any-
thing is expressed by the adverb pu or pa placed
before the verb, which may be followed by pala or
po. Pa is used before the third person when nouns of
the first class are referred to and before the second
person plural; in all other cases pu is used :
When it was flying, pu liagulukaga pala.
When he was speaking, pa aluiilaga pala.
When it shall fly, pu tlliguluche po.
When he shall speak, pa talulile po.
When he had bitten me, pamasile kunduma.
When he was coming back, pa aujaga.
If I had stopped I should have forgotten,
pu ngakaivilile, ngaliwalile.
If I should fry, pu ngakasile.
Negative Tenses.
The negative of the present and future, or, rather,
an indefinite negative, is made by prefixing the syl-
lable nga-, followed by the sign of the person :
Ngandenda, I do not, have not, or will not do.
Ngautenda.
Ngatenda,
Ngautenda, ngajUenda, ngacliitenda, ngalitenda,
iigalutenda, ngalcatenda, ngapatenda.
g 3
66 VERBS.
Ngatutenda.
iVgaintenda.
Ngatenda.
Ngajlienda, ngasitenda, ngaltenda, ngagatenda,
ngatutenda.
When nga- is followed by -pa, it denies generally
the possibility of the action or state :
Ngapakonibola, there is no being" able.
Ngapaichila, there is no reaching up to.
In order to make the sense more definite, the sign
of the person may be added before the -pa- :
Ngampahombola, there is no being able for you.
Ngampajomluka, there is no crossing for you.
If the sign of the person is put before the syllable
-nga-, it gives the sense of not yet :
T/n/gai/ia, we are not yet arrived.
Jangapia, it is not yet cooked.
Nguo siangapajwnmla, the cloths are not yet dry.
Negative Past.
The negative of the past tense is made by prefixing
ngana-, followed by the sign of the person :
Ngananitrnda, I did not do.
Nganotcuda.
Nganatenda.
Nganofrndii ,nganajit ev d a ,n ga nac/i if end <t , ngana-
11 tend a, nganalutenda, nganakatenda,
nganapatenda.
VERBS. 67
Nganatutenda.
'Nganamtenda.
Nganateuda.
Ngdnajitenda, nganasitenda}nganaitenda} ngana-
ga tenda, nga natu tenda .
The negative of the past imperfect is made by
adding" -go, to the negative past :
Nganandendaga, I was not doing.
Nganotendaga.
Nganateudaga, fyc. fyc.
Negative Subjunctive.
The negative of the subjunctive is made by the
use of -kaja, with the personal sigui prefixed, followed
by the verb with the personal sign prefixed :
Ngaja ndenda, that I may not do, or, let/ me
not do.
tfkaja u tend a.
Aliitja afcnda.
I kaja u feud a, jikaja jit end a, chitaja eh i tenda,
litaja llteuda, lutaja lutenda, kataja
hatenda, pakaja pat end a.
Tukaja tatenda.
MJcaja mtenda.
Ahaja atenda.
Jikaja jitenda, sikaja sitenda, itaja itenda,
gataja gafeuda , tefaja tatenda,
THE PASSIVE VOICE.
The passive is formed from the active by inserting
08 VERBS.
-w- before the final vowel. It is in all other respects
the same as the active :
Kiitenda, to do. Kutendwa, to be done.
Kukamida, to seize. Kukamulwa, to be seized.
Akamwlle, he has seized. Ukamwllwe, it has been
seized.
The Verb "To be."
The verb huwa, to be, is, as in most other languages,
somewhat irregular.
In the present tense the personal signs are used
alone to represent is or are. Is and are not is ex-
pressed by ngatl or ngali.
The present perfect, expressing have been or am :
Ndl, I have been. Tull, we have been.
JJli, thou hast been. Mil, you have been.
All, he or she has been. All, they have been.
Ull,jlll, chill, llll, lull, Jill, sill, III, g 'all, t all, they
hall, pall, it has been. have been.
The past perfect, was, or had been, is made by the
syllables -alljl- :
Nalljl. Tivalljl.
Walljl. Mwaliji.
Alljl. Alyi.
// 'n lljl, j alljl, clialljl, lall- Jallji, syalljl, yalljl,galljl,
jl, lualljl, kallj), palljl. tivalljl.
VERBS. 69
The past imperfect, was, or, was being, is found
regularly :
Navaga. Twawaga.
Waioaga. Mwawaga.
Aicaga. Awaga.
Wawaga,jawaga, chawaga, Jaivaga, 8i/mvaga,yaivaga,
lawaga,luatvaga,Jcawaga, gawaga, twawaga.
pawaga.
The future, shall and will be, is :
Thoe. Tiifuwe.
Tiuwe. Timwe.
Tawe, Sfc. Taice, fyc.
The subjunctive, that — may be, or let — be, is :
Mbe. Tinoe.
Uwe. 'Mive.
Awe, Sfc. Awe, Sfc.
To be, in the sense of existing is expressed by
adding na to the verb Tcuwa. The same form expresses
the verb to have.
To be in a place, whether the place is expressed or
not, is denoted by the insertion between the personal
sign and the verb of the syllables, -run-, -pa-, or-ht-.
JSLv is used to express being within something. Pa is
used for being on a definite spot. Ku is used where
the place is conceived of more vaguely or as at a
distance.
DERIVED VERBS.
From any simple verb others may be formed by a
change in its termination :
70 VERBS.
1. By changing the final -a into -ila or -ela the
effect is the same as that of adding a preposition in
English. In translating this form any appropriate
preposition may be used. The termination -ila is
used where the vowel of the preceding syllable is -a-,
-i~, or -u- j -ela is used after -e-, or -o-.
To buy, kusuma. To buy for another, kusu-
mila.
To carry, kujigala. To carry for, hijigalila.
To leave alone, kuleka. To forgive to, kidecliela.
To open one's eyes, kutola To open one's eyes at,
meso. kutolela meso.
To sit, kutama. To sit upon, kutamila.
To go first, kulonga. To go before, kulongolela.
To be a servant, kutu- To be a servant to, kutu-
mika. michila.
To look, kitlola. To look out for, kulolela.
To steal, kaiwa. To steal from, kuiwila.
The passive of this form refers to the person, &c,
to, for, from, &c, or with which the action is done,
and means, to have such a thing done to, for, &c, or
with the person, &c.
2. The verb is made causative by changing -la or
-ka into -sya} -ma into -my a, -na into -nya, or, in other
terminations, changing the final -a into -exya or -isya,
according to the vowel of the preceding syllable, -esj/a
after -e- or -o-, and -isya after -a-, -1-, or -u- :
Kutojima, to start. Kutojimya, to startle.
Knjonga, to suck. Knjonjesya, to suckle.
Kiisakala, to spoil (neut.) Kiisakasya, to spoil (act.).
Kuliuka, to go out. Kutiosya, to put out.
VERBS. 71
Kuungana, to come to- Kuunganya, to bring to-
gether, gether.
Kiqnnclana, to be folded ■ Kup'mclanya, to fold to-
togetlier. gether.
The forms in -sya are used also to intensify the
action of the simple verb :
Ktyogojaa, to fear. Kvjogopesya, to fear ex-
ceedingly.
This form is strengthened still further by inserting
-chi- or -die- before the syllable -sya.
3. A neuter or quasi-passive form is made by the
use of the termination -ka. The terminations -la
and -sya are changed into -lea. In other cases the
final -a becomes -eka or -ika, according to the vowel
of the preceding syllable :
Kutulusya, to let down. Kutuluka, to be let down,
to descend.
Kumanya, to know. Kumanyika, to be known.
Kugolosya, to make straight. Kiigoloka, to be straight.
4. The verb is made reciprocal by changing the
final -a into -ana :
Kumenya, to strike. Kumenyana, to strike one
another, to fight.
Kidanga, to take leave. Kulangana, to take leave
of one another.
LIST OF VERBS.
The first person singular of the present perfect is placed in a
parenthesis after the word. In order to form the other per-
sons the initial consonant of the verb must he restored to its
original form.
Abhor, angasalala mtima.
Abide, tama {ndeme).
Able, be, Jcombola (ngo-
mbwele).
Abolish : slavery is abolished
in our country, ukapolo
umasile kumangwetu.
Abound, chuluka (njulwicJie);
to be many, tupa (ndupilq);
to be full of, gumbala
(nguiiibeh) : our country
abounds in lions, chilambo
chetu chigumbele masimba.
Abuse, by word or deed,
tunduka ; he abused mc.
andunducliile ; by bad or
filthy language, tvJcama
(ndukenc).
Accept, jitichila (nyitichile) ;
receive, pechela (mbechele).
Accompany, longana na (no-
ngene); let us go together,
tulongane.
Accomplish, malisya (malisi-
sye) ; become accomplished,
masila (masile).
Accuse, say of, s alii a.
Accustom, siowesya (siowcsi-
sye); become used to, siowela
{sioicele) ; become used to
one another, siowckana
{sioicekene).
Ache, peteka (mbeteche); my
head is aching, mtwi uku-
mbeteka.
Add, onjesya, onjecliesya; be
added to, onjesela.
Admit, jinjisya (nyinjisye).
Adorn, lemba {nembile) ; I
shall adorn, tvnembe; adorn
one's self (dress well), mala
it koto.
Advise, weleketa (mbelcehetc);
we advised you privately,
tukuwelechete mtemele.
Adze, songola (songwele).
Afraid, be,jogopa (nyogwejpe);
be very much afraid, jogo-
pesya, ogopeehesya ; be in
great fear or danger, picelela
(mbwelcle).
Agree, be of one mind, jilana;
we agreed, tujilene je ; be
accustomed to one another,
siowekana (siowekcne), sio-
wela na.
LIST OF VERBS.
73
Agreeable, De, kotopa (ngotwe-
pe).
Alienate, become alienated,
lekana (ndekene).
Anger, become angry, tumhala
(ndumbile).
Anoint, rub on, pakala (mba-
chele).
Answer, ja nga ( nya njile) .
Appear, kopochcla ; appear to,
kopochelela.
Approach, wandika (wandi-
che) ; one another, tcandi-
kana (mbandikene) ; bring
near, icandichila, sejelela ;
let him come and sit down,
ajize a tame.
Arrive, ilea (niche).
Ascend, kwela (ngwesile) ;
climb up ! kieela n i m w in a n i !
Ashamed.be, ona soni ,kolasoni.
Ask, tisya (usisi/e) ; ask for,
saka (sachile); ask on be-
half of, &c.,ttc/iis}/a.
Aflsemble,(act.) ungawga (tinge-
nye).
Assist, j an gat a (nyangete);
I assisted him, nimjangete.
Attack, sienga.
Attempt, linga {lunjile).
A agment, onjejdsya.
Avoid, leave, leka (ndesile) ;
get out of the way of,
sepuka (sepwiche); avoid a
missile, tiala (ndiasile); ho
avoided drinking (he just
left the place of beer), ase-
pwieheje pauka.no,.
Awake, he is awake, juaehuela
meso pe.
Aware, become, sisimuka (sisi-
mukile).
Bake, joka (nyocJiile).
Banish, icinga {icinjile),
mi nga (I).
Bark, Vila; he barked, alisile.
Bask in the sun, otela Una.
Bathe, jog a (nyosile).
Be, wa. [See p. 68].
Bear, fruit, children, &c,
weleka (iceleche). icelec/iela ;
be born, pagwa (mbagicile);
cany, jigala (nyigelc) .
Beat, menya (menyile), kunv-
la (ngvnwile), puta (mbu-
tile); beat a drum, gomba
ngoma (ngombele).
Beckon to, wilanga (?).
Beg, juga (nyusile); pray,
lomba (nombile).
Begin, tanda (ndandite), tan-
dula (ndandwile).
Behave well, tenda ncheneyie:
he behaves well, atesile
uelienenepe.
Behead, sichita likosi.
Bellow, like a bull, gunguluma;
he bellowed, agungulwime.
Bend, pinda (mbindile).
Bend down, (neut.) jinama
(nyinemc); (act.) jinam isya
(nyinamisyc) ; bend down
verymuch,(neut.}//»<Y/«/.s'y<7.
Benumb : my fingers are dead
with cold, yala yangu itvile
mandindi.
Beware, lolechcsya (ndole-
chesyc).
74
LfST OF YERBS.
Bewitch, loga (ndosile) ; he
bewitched me, andosile ; he
bewitched you, akulosile.
Bind, tawa (ndawile).
Bite, luma; it bit me, andu-
mile.
Bitter, be, wawa ; it has got
bitter, ckiwawile.
Blacken, tenda clta chipilyu ;
become black, jpilila (mbi-
lile).
Blaze, kolela.
Bless, jinichila.
Blind : his eyes are swollen and
burst, meso gatuswiche
(tusuka) ; his eyes are
closed, meso gatotivec/ie
{totoJca).
Blow (like the wind) tutuma;
it blows, jitutwime ; blow
the fire, wiwila ; with the
mouth, kolesya moto na
pakamwa ; with bellows,
ukutila moto na miwua.
Boil, tutuma ; the water boils,
mesi gatutwime; boil vege-
tables, &c, tokosya, telesya;
the sweet potatoes are boiled,
batata sitokwete (or si/pile).
Border upon, one boundary,
mpika umo ; alongside, ma-
il nga pe ; just together,
dial umo pe.
Born, be, pagwa (mbagwile).
Box the ears, menya ligasa,
kunula lipende; he boxed
my ears, angunwile lipende.
Break, temanya (ndemenye),
temdngula (ndemangwile),
Jcasa (ngasile) ; become
broken, temeka, kasika ; it
broke, itemeche ; the water
jar is broken, luulo luka-
siche.
Breathe, pumwula (mbumwi-
le); sigh, isya mtima.
Breed, of animals, pongola
(apongivele).
Bring, carry to, igalila ; come
with, isa nayo ; give to,
pa. Bring me my knife,
hambeni chipula c/iangu ;
[take], tola; bring water,
Icatoleni mesi; it was
brought long ago, chiiehc
Icalakala.
Build (tie, all houses are tied
together), tawa ; to set up a
stockade, kutawa lusagala.
Burn : set on fire, oka ; the
men burnt the house, irandu
ajochile nyumba; be con-
sumed, pila; the house was
burnt, nyumba jipile moto;
\\ght\i]),pamba(i?ibambilc);
make up a fire, isila lusasu;
in cooking, tinika ; burst
into a blaze, temesya moto.
Bury, asa (nyasile).
Buy, suma (sumilc); buy for,
siimila ; I want you to buy
me a slave, ngusaka msti-
mile kapolo.
Cackle, tefela.
Call, wilanga {wilasile); he is
calling me, ahumbilanga.
Can: be able, kombola; to be
possible, kupakombola.
LIST OF VEEBS.
75
Care, think, ganisya ; look
after, lolechesya.
Carry, jigala; carry for, jiga-
lila ; be a porter, lalika.
Carve, ornament, lemba.
Catch (a ball), janga (nyanji-
le) ; seize, kamula (nga-
mwile); catch fish, loposya
somha ; he caught, alopwe-
sye.
Cease, leka (ndesile); finish,
mala (masile).
Chase, winga {winjile).
Cheat, lambusya (nambwisye).
Chew, tauna (ndawine); chew
sugar-cane, &c, kambila,
ipa.
Chirrup, sionya (sionyUe),
Choose, sdgula (sagwile).
Circumcise, mwina; go into
the woods and stay there, as
part of the ceremony of en-
tering on manhood, dagala.
Clap the hands, kwata (ngica-
tile).
Claw, papula (mbapicile).
Clean (see Wash), become
clean, stiejela ; scrape the
scales off a fish, pata somba
(mbasile) ; gut, tumbula
(ndumbwile) ,- clean cotton
from the seeds, chela litonji
{njesile).
Clear ground in a forest, sanji-
la ; clear the path by laying
the grass to a side, wand a
{wandile).
Cleave, split up, palula {mha-
Iwile); split a little, pala-
watidula (mbalaicaiidicile).
Climb, kwela (ngwesile).
Close, the fist, umbata (umbe-
te) ; the eyes, hv/pila
(ngupile); put to (a door),
tisya {usisye) ; fasten (a
door), it gal a (i/gele).
Clothe, tcasya (icasisye) ; put
on, uala {uete).
Cluck, the hen is calling her
chicks, nguku Jikwatvila~
njila wanache wake.
Cold, be, sisima ; feel the
cold, ona mbepo.
Collect, uuganya ; gather into
a heap, Icolcola ; we are
come together, tuiche pa-
mpepe ; they are gathering
now, akwika samba no.
Comb, sa inula (sunuc tie).
Come, isa (nisile); arrive, ika;
come from, tioka (ndiosile);
come out of, kopoka (ngo-
pweche) ; come near to,
voandichila ; come up with,
chinga; the goats have all
come, mbusi siose siikange-
ne (ikangana).
Comforted, be, lisinjila {ndi-
sinjile).
Command, lula.
Commence, tanda (ndandile).
Commiserate, tendela chana-
sa ; pity, kumbuchila.
Complete, malisya, lingana.
Comprehend, understand, ma-
nya (nuznyile) ; it is in-
comprehensible, galimanyi-
ka.
Conceal, sisa (sisile).
Conclude, mala.
H 2
76
LIST OF VERBS.
Confound, mix, wangai/y a (wa-
ngomyise).
Consent, kunda (ngundile) ;
be content, jitichila; I shall
not consent, ting one.
Consider, kumbiichila, ganyi-
sya.
Console, still, tamiJca •■; he con-
soledhim,a« tamiche mtima;
he was consoled, mtima umi-
alele\heuom& still, mialala],
lull, jjemhesya.
Consume, Ha; the house was
consumed by fire, moto utile
nyumba.
Contract, draw up, matikana;
make a contract, langana
(nangene).
Converse, kunguluka ; we
conversed together, twaku-
ngvlwiche.
Convert, galausya (ngalau-
sisye).
Cook, wuga (mbujile) ; boil,
teleka (ndeleche) ; be cooked
(done), j>ya ; it is done,
ipile.
Cool, (act.) posya {mhosisye);
(neut.) pola ; tbe water has
cooled, mesi gaposile.
Cough, kos6mola{ngosomwele);
hawk up spittle, kolola.
Count, walanga {walamile).
Cover, oniha ; for a person,
onichila.
Covet, .sulci.
Crack, taga lug a ; don't crack
it, mJcaja mtaga luga; he
has cracked it, atasile luga;
it is cracked (it has a crack),
luna luga; open like clay in
the sun, gala (-gasile).
Crackle, latdsiJca.
Crawl, kivawa {ngu-awile).
Creep, tambala (ndambele).
Cross, a river, jomboTca {nyo~
mbweche); let us go over in
a canoe, tujomboche mice
lilcungwa ; it cannot be
crossed, ngapajomboka ; lie
across, jejema ; be cross
with, Jcalipila.
Cry, lila (ndisile) ; cry out,
tenda, jisegwe ; go crying
to one's father, &c, clioko-
leJca .
Cultivate, lima (ndimile).
Cure, posya (mbosisye) ; be
cured, pola; the wound has
healed, liwanga liposile.
Curse, Iwesa (ndwesile) ; im-
precate against, hcesela.
Cut, si kit a (sikile); across the
middle, sikita chisikatipe ;
long ways, sikita chamchi-
leu ; obliquely, sikita
chamchipingula ,■ cut down
(fell), kang'anda (»ga-
ng'andile) ; with a sword
(slash), tema (ndemile) ; as
in reaping (mow), kumba;
cut open an animal, tumbula
(nd&mlwile); cut the throat,
singa {sinjile) ; cut the tops
off weeds, cut hair,&c. (crop),
utula (tit wile) ; cut even,
lenga ; cut the teeth to a
point, songola mow, panya
meno (mbanyile).
LIST OF VERBS.
77
Dance, ina (mile) ; ng'anda
(ng'andile).
Deal, trade, tenda malonda;
hawk about, jesya (nyesi-
sye).
Deceive, lambusya (nambu-
sisye), lambuchisya.
Decrease, (act.) pungusya ;
(neut.) punguka, pungula ;
by taking away, sapula ; be-
come ]ittle,Jatoa ; the water
is failing, mesi gajawile.
Deformed, be, lemala; tbe
man is deformed, mundit
alemele ; tbe tree grows out
of shape, or, it has outgrown
itself, nttela ukulemala ;
the road is rough and broken,
litala Ukulemala ; the hill
is abrupt and precipitous, li-
tu nihil i Ukulemala.
Deliver, lamila, lamisya.
Deny, kana {ng anile).
Deride, sekela ; tenda uicilo ;
tenda chipongwe ; tenda
(■ha ad die.
Descend, tiiluka (ndulwiche).
Deserve : he deserves to be
beaten, kungulu akampu-
tile [it were best the}" beat
him].
Desire, saka (sachile).
Despair : I despair of it, nga
ngv.lv/palila (I do not
hope).
Destroy, sakasya (sakesye) ;
to be destroyed or spoilt, sa-
kala.
Detain, kawilisya.
Die, uwa (uwile).
n
Difficult, be, kanichisya ; I
found a difficulty, ndi pa-
kanichisye.
Dig, ukula (ukwile) ; dig a
small bole as with an iron
bar, sola (sosile) ; dig boles
for tbe posts of a but, aula
lisimba.
Diminish, (act.) pungusya
(mbungwisye), (neut.) pu-
ngula ; become little, jawa;
by taking away, sapula («a-
pwile); (neut.) sapuka; the
water has been made less,
mesi ga sap w ic/t e.
Dip, chopya (njopile) ; put in,
taga ; I have dipped it in
water, ndasile pamesi ; dip
up, teka (ndechile) ; dip up
beer, and give it out for
drinking, tekanya ukana
{ndekenye).
Dirt, get d]xty,jinjila likapu.
Disapprove, kanila ; he dis-
likes it, angasaka.
Dislocate, tia I a in busy a ; be
dislocated, tialambuka; it
is dislocated, itialambwiche.
Dissolve, (act.) uyeuyeudusya;
(neut.) nyenyenduka ; it is
dissolved, inyenyendwiehe.
Distort, popolul a.
Dive, t'uvila (ndnoile).
Divide, gawanya (ngawenye).
Do, tenda (ndesile) ; panga-
nya (mbangenye).
Doubt, laga (ndasile).
1 >o/.e, gwesela (ngwesele).
Drag, vita.
Draw, ula, (utile); water, te-
3
78
LIST OF VERBS.
ka (ndechile) ; draw up to-
gether, Jcwima; the meat
has shrunk in boiling, nya-
majikwimile; draw the fire
together, kumbanya moto ;
draw back, tukuka, tuku-
chila.
Dream, sagamila (sagamile).
Dress, uala nguo ; dress hair,
t/'ira umbo.
Drink, ng'wa (ng'wele) ; give
to drink, ng'wesya (ng'we-
sisye).
D rive dongo lesya (nongo lesye) .
Drop, sulula madondwa.
Dry, (neut.) jumula ; they are
not dry, siangajumula ;
they are dry, sijnmwile ;
(act.) jumulila ; put to dry,
janika (nyaniche) ; he is
putting his clothes out to
diy, akusijanika nguo ; he
has bathed, and is drying
(wiping) himself, ajosile
akulishda mesi.
Dwell, tama (nc/cme).
Dye, red, chejesyu; be dyed,
chejela.
Earn : to get hire, kupelwa
i nn bote.
Ease one's self, Tcunya; he is
gone to ease himself, agile
kuikonde [gone into the
hush].
East' (make easy) apuka.
Eclipse : the moon is eclipsed,
mwezi ukamwilwe na 11-
joka [the moon has been
seized by a snake].
Eat, Ha (ndiie); eat to excess,
nyela ; eat up all the food
away from the rest, kala-
musya ; be overstuffed, lu-
lilwa.
Emerge, juuka (nyuwiche).
Empty. SeePour. He emptied
out all the water, ajitUe
gose.
Encamp, stop on the road, ta~
ma mwitala.
Encourage, to be encouraged,
timalika m/ima.
End, (neut.) mala ; the food is
done, yakulia imasile; my
work is done, gamasile ma-
sengo gangu.
Engender, weleka ; cover, ktve-
f tin a.
Enter, jinjila (nyinjile).
Entreat, juga (nyusile) ; per-
suade, chondelela.
Entrust, wichila (mbichile).
Equalize : make alike, tendet
clialumo ; make fair, tenda
iyoyo.
Erect, ^Vw ika (nyimic/ie).
Err : miss the way, kosa litala,
sachelela.
Escape, as a spring, jutu-
ka.
Evaporate : the water is dried
up, mesi gaamwele.
Examine, look well at, lole-
chesya; seek, sosa.
Exceed: pass, punda ; he ex-
cels him, ampundile.
Excited, be : he is excited, wyo-
ii go jitindcne [his bile is up-
set].
LTST OF VERBS.
79
Exhort, onesya (mbonesisye) ;
losya [nosis-ye).
Expect : I was expecting it,
nasisimukaga.
Extinguish, simya (simile).
Extol, jinichila (nyinichile).
Fade, dry, jumulci; waste
away, ganda.
Faint away, siliJca {siUchile).
Fall, ^ww [vgicile) ; fall in, li-
huka ■■; it fell in, lilikwieke;
fall into a pit, &c. tumMJca
(ndumhichile) ; make to fall
into, &c. tumbukisya.
Fan, pepelela.
Fasten: tie, tcuca ; firmly, ta-
toisya; fasten into, ugalila.
Fatten, (neut.) of beasts, na/ra-
na; the goat is fat, mbwsi
jinaJcene ; of men, jimbala
(nyimbele).
Favour, jiiiiehilila (nyinicki-
lile). "
Yeiir.jogojia (tujogwepe).
Feed, lisya (ndisisye); let us
go and feed the goats, iwe-
nde fatkasilisye mbv.si ; he
fed him, ampele chakula
[he gave him food].
Feel: touch, kwaya [ngwctyili );
stroke, papasya (mbapasi-
syc) ; lay on the hand, Lira-
yisya .
Fence : make a fence, tend a
lutcnje; with reeds, hweta
(ngwetile).
Ferment, chesvka ; it h.is fer-
mented, icheswiche.
Fever : get a fever, ndipulca
(ndipwiehe).
Fetch. See Bring.
Few, he, narrdupa ; we are
few, tunandwipe.
Fight,menyana, umana; strive
with, tctela.
Fill, gumbasya (ngumbesye),
gumbalichisya ; become full,
gumbala ; the jar is full of
water, luulo lugumbele me-
si ; the jar is half full of
water, luulo luhwete litilca
mesi ; fill up a small hole in
the ground, silila (silile).
Find : see, wvna ; seek, sosa ;
he found me, ambwene.
Finish, (act.) malisyg.; (neut.)
mala ; finish off well, tenda
uc/t incite
Fire a gun, gomba {ngombile)
uti ; cock a gun, teg a; miss
fire, hana /nolo.
Fix, kasiana (ngasiene).
Flash, of lightning, mesya.
Flee, tila (ndisile); make to
flee, tisya [ndisisye).
Flinch, iiala (ndiasile); flinch
from, tiasya (ndiasisye).
Flog, jiu/a na migqji.
Flourish, te/ijela.
Flow, pass, pita ; leak out,
sulula ; the water flows in
the river, mesi gahwpita
mno lusulo; the blood is
flowing fast, miasi jikusu-
lula mnope.
Flower, tola ndua.
Fly, guluka [ngul wiche), a
man cannot fly like a bird.
so
LIST OF VERBS.
mundu angapakombola ku-
guluka mti chijuni.
Fold, pindanya (mbind&nye)
ilijila ; it was folded up,
chilijililwe.
Follow, kagula (ngagwile):
Foolish, be, lowela, (ndowele).
Forbid, hanya (riganisye).
Force, tenda machili.
Forge, do smith's work, siana
(si anile).
Forget, liwalila {ndiwalile),
lemiva; he said he should
forget, aluwile leuti tali-
walile ; if I had stopped I
should have forgotten, pu-
ngahcuwilile ngaliwalile ;
don't forget, mkaja mli-
walila.
Forgive, leka, lechela.
Free, tenda mlukosyo.
Fresh, be, not salt, sisima ;
the water is'fresh, mesi ga-
sisime.
Frighten, jogosy a (nyogwesye).
Frown, sinya (sinyile) ; he
frowned, atesile sinya.
Fry, Tcalanga (ngalasile or
ngalanjile).
Gain, kola itpili ; get advan-
tage, pin due hila (/).
Gape, tenda mwayu.
Gasp for breath, ndipuJca mti-
ma ; he gasped for breath,
undipw ieh e mti ma.
Gather : put together, toika
pampepe, unganya [unge-
nye) ; come together, unga-
na ; gather into a heap, ko-
kola (ngokicele) ; a hen
gathering her chickens under
her wings, ngttku jiutamile
wanache wake; gatherfruit,
kawa tyigawile).
Get, kola (ngwete); get giddy,
kola kisiungusiungu ; get
up, tioka, ima ; get well,
la/na (ndamile),imuka; of
a wound, pal a {liposile);
get wet, &c. See Wet, &c.
Give to, pa; he gave me,
ambele; (pass.) to receive,
pclira; get from one another,
pelwana; make presents to,
laguchisya; make a gift to
a workman, ttpa [upile).
Give way, a little, wonyela ;
and fall in, likuka.
Glance off, sembenduka ; it
glanced off, ehiscmbeadwi-
che.
Glide, slip, telesya, chililika ;
water is gliding down, mesi
gakuchililika past.
Glitter, me rim eta ; they glit-
tered, simerimetile ; give
light fSwejela; the stars shine
bright, ndondwa siaswejele;
like lightning, mesya.
Gnash the teeth, hi manga'
nya meno (ndumangenye).
Gnaw, tauna (ndatcine).
Grin, j a s-e ma (nya seme); thedog
opened his lips and fixed his
teeth, mbwa ijaseme iluma-
nganile meno.
Go, enda,jenda (nyesile),ja.
Go away, go olf.janla (nyau-
ile) ; I am going away, tide-
LIST OF VERBS.
81
nda kwaula ; I shall not go
away, ngaja nyaula.
Go away, set out, tioka ; the
goat is gone away, mbusi
jitiosile.
Go hack, uja (usile).
Go bad, ola ; it has gone had,
iwosile.
Go hefore, longolela (nongo-
lele).
Go deep, hard, fast, &c.,jende-
sya.
Go down, tuluka (ndulwiche).
Go far, tallica (ndaliche) ;
very far, talicJiisya ; don't
go very far, mJcaja mtali-
chisya pakwenda.
Go fast, chelenga {vjelenjile).
Go quickly, hangamala.
Go in or into, jinjila {nyi-
njile).
Go out of, kopoka (ngopicc-
che).
Go out, like a lamp, simika.
Good, be, lumbana (ndu-
mhene).
Graze, of cattle, enda kuli-
sya.
Graze, rub off the skin, pomo-
la; it rubbed off my skin,
imbomirele.
Greet, Jim n lea (»yi>iuriche),ji-
nvwichila ; he saluted me,
anyimwichile.
Grind, siaga (siajile) ; the
women were grinding, wa-
kongwe asiajileje.
Groan, uvula (wuusile).
Grow, of vegetables, mela ; the
tree has <rrowm mtela ume-
sile ; of persons, sagamila;
my child has grown, mwa-
nangu asagamilile.
Grow great, kula (ngusile).
Growl, iongula, gunguluma.
See Hoar.
Grumble, songona, songonela.
Grunt, titruma, ninya ; the
pig grunted, likuluive lini-
nyile.
Guard, linda (ndindite) ;
guard against, &c, lindi-
lila.
Guide, go before, longola, lo-
ngolela ; show the way, la-
njila litala.
Hail : it hails, jlkunya ula ya
maganga (or, ya mando-
ndica).
Halt : stop, ima ; go lame, ti-
ndimajila.
Hang : strangle, popoiola ;
hang Tup,(a.ct.)kwesya {ngwe-
sisye) ; (neut.) kolcka ; it
hangs up, chikoleche.
Happy, be, HlimaUJa.
Harm, p>we^a {mbieelele) ;
it does no harm, ngapakwe-
lela ; no harm, all right,
mbesi.
Harass, pesya {mbesisye), sa-
kalisya ; be harassed, pe~
la (mbesilt ).
Hasten, (act.) kangamasya ;
make haste, kangamala
{iigaiigiuiuh).
Hatch, sosola.
■ WaU\ ttiwlila, sausya, kana
cha hi tint a.
82
LIST OF VE11BS.
Healthy: to be healthy and
light hearted, ehangalama-
na.
Hear, pilikana (mbilikene).
Hearken, pilikanila.
Help, jangata (nyangatile),
ha m usya (nga m wisye) ; I
helped him, nimjangatile ;
he helped me, anyangatile ;
call a man to help him, awi-
Jange mundu amkamusye ;
I cannot lift it, make some
one help me, ngapakombo-
lu kunyakula mbe mundu
angamusye.
Hide, sisa (sisile) ; hide one's
se\£,juwa (nyuwile).
Hinder, Jcanya, kaniehisya.
Hire, pelwa kica mbote.
Hit : with the fist, puta ;
thrust, soma (somite); with
a stick, nula, menya.
Hoarse, be : the voice is dried
up, lilowe lijumwile (jumu-
la); the voice is lost, lilowe
lisowile (soiua).
Hoe, palila (mbalile).
Hoist up, twika (ndwichile);
via mwinane, utila kwi-
nane.
Hollow: hollow out, sokolela;
clean the pith out of a reed,
etc., tenda lipesi; sound hol-
low, gungulila.
Hop, gulukaguluka.
Hope, kumbuchilct, Iv/pa-
lila.
Humble one's self, linonokea
(ndinonochele); make one's
self a child, litenda mwa-
nache ; entreat like a child,
tenda lutete.
Hunt, winga {winjile).
Hurt: be hurt, ulala (ulcle) ;
give pain, peteka (mbete-
che).
Husk Indian corn, senda ima-
nga (sendile).
Imitate, linga (ninjile), li-
ngana ; he cannot imitate
me, ngampakombola kuli-
ngana none [na une].
Immerse in water, tumbuki-
sya mest.
Immigrate : ihey have left
their land, and come to
dwell in our land, asamile
chit umbo cliao ajesile ku-
tama kuchilambo chetu.
Impossible, to be : it cannot
lie, ngapakombola kuwa.
Improve, tenda. ukoto.
Imprison: bind, taica.
Incline, jinama (nyineme):
Increase, jonjichesya (nj/onji-
chesye) ; become more, pa-
mbula; they are more. //"./-
rnbwile.
Inherit: I have got the pro-
perty of him who died, vgwe-
techipanje chaju a idle Jute.
When a man dies his hut is
pulled down, his widow takes
her pots and vessels, and his
brother takes the rest.
Enquire, sosa ; listen for the
truth, lipilikanila nmope.
Instruct, jiganya (nyigenye).
LIST OF VERBS.
83
Insult, tukana.
Intend, saka.
Introduce, jinjisya.
Inundate : the river is rising,
Insula lukulikuka ; the
river is in flood, Insula luli-
I'lciche.
Invent, kola kindu chipia.
Irritate, tumbalisya (ndumba-
lisye); be irritable, tnmha-
Ida ; be very irritable, tu-
mbalisya.
Itch: cause to itch, nyanya ;
he itched, yamnyanyile.
Jam, pachikana (?); become
jammed, pachika ; it is
jammed, lipach ichc.
Jerk, kutula (ngutwile).
Joke, seka, tenda uwifo, l-we-
legula.
Judge, pokolanya (inbokole-
nye).
Jump, guluka (ngulwicke).
Keep : guard, lindila ; put
away, wika.
Kick, puta lichese; he kicked
me, ambiitile lichese.
Kill, ulaga (rnbuleje or nu-
leye).
Kindle, kolesya.
Kiss, tnesya.
Knead, ponda ; he kneaded
with his Angers, apondile
na gala.
KnctAjindi/rala (iidindiirele).
Knock: heavily, menya; light-
ly, kumuvda (ngumundile) ;
at a door, poposya ; it is
usual at a door to clap the
hands and cry — icho !
Know, manya (manyile), ma-
nyila ; he understands you,
akumanyilile ; I do not
understand them, ngama-
nyilila ; I know something,
ngumanya chindu ; I know
nothing, ngamanya ; I don't
know, Jcwali.
Labour, tenda ma sen go.
Lacerate, papula ( mb a p wile).
Lade out, pakula (mbakwile).
Lame, be, tundajila.
Last: be durable, limba ; be
hard, nonopa; ebony lasts
long (does not end), mpingu
wangamala ; stay, kawilila.
Laugh, seka (sechile).
Lay. wiJca {mbistle) ; taga
(nddsile) ; lay a cloth, &c,
tandika (ndandiche) ; laj-
eggs,tajila mandanda ; lay
across diagonally, pingula-
na.
Lead : go before, longola, lot/go-
tela ; show the way. lanjila
litala.
Leak, sulula.
Lean, he. ganda {ngandih).
Learn, lijiga nya.
Leave, leka ; leave remaining,
lepela (ndepele) ; leave off,
lot oka {ngotweche) ; used of
pain or of talking, mialala.
Lend: let a person have goods
84
LIST OF VERBS.
or money to trade with,
Teongola (ngongwele).
Lengthen, (act.) leuya (ndewi-
ye) ; (neut.) leu/pa ; the hair
is long, umbo silewipe.
Lessen, (act.) ij)isya (nyipini-
sye) ; (neut.) ipia [nyipiye).
Let down, tulusya (udulwi-
sye).
Level, tenda malinga.
Liberate: from slavery, tenda
lukosyo ; from work, &c,
welusya (mbelwisye); be at
liberty, weluJca (mbeltoiehe).
Lick, lamha [ndambile) touch
with the tongue, la-
pita.
Lie: tell lies, tenda (or wele-
cheta) unami ; you are tell-
ing lies, mkutenda unami;
you are not telling a lie,
mkatenda unami; I tell no
lies, ngasaka Jcumbusya
unami; lie (lay yourself
down), ligoneka (niligone-
che) ; lijongola; lie, gona
goneka ' ; welay on our hacks,
tugonele lugali; lie one
upon another, sanjikanga-
na ; lie in wait, sagamisya
(sagamisisye).
Lift, nyamula (nyamwile) ;
nyakula {nyakwile).
Light : set on fire, kolesya
^{ngolesye, ngolesisye) ; be
light (not dark), languha ; be
light (not heavy), kiraluka.
Lighten, flash, mulika.
Like, nenyela (nenyele); he
does not like work, anga
vgancnyela kupanganya
masengo.
Listen to, pilikanyila.
Live, dwell, tama ; he is alive.
jua mjumi.
Load: a gun, sopela (sopele) ;
a porter, jigasya; put upon.
twichila ; add to a person's
load, pambila (mbambile).
Loiter, kawilila.
Look, tola (ndolite) ; look out
for, lolela (ndolelele) ; look
with astonishment, tola me-
so.
Loose : let loose, gopola (ngo-
pwele); he loose (not tight),
I e jet a.
Loosen, lejesya.
Lose : be lost, jasiJca, sotva
[sowile) ; I have lost my
knife, cliipula changu chi-
j a si die; wander about home-
less, lijasa ; be utterly lost.
similila ; lose one's way in
the woods, saehelela.
Love, nenyela ; love one ano-
ther, jilikan a ; we loved one
another, tujilichene.
Lower, tulusya (ndulwisye).
Lull, pembelesya.
Lust after, pila.
Magnify, Jcusya (ngusisye) ;
grow great, kula (ngusile) ;
make great, tenda ukulu-
vgira ; he made him great,
a m tesile jua m kiit a hi i wa .
Maintain, igalila ; he gave me
rations, ambele ngomalilo.
LIST OF VERBS.
85
Make: cause to be, tenda
(ndesile) ; by working, pa-
ng any a (mbangenye), pa-
nganisya ; for a person, pa-
nganichisya ; make pots,
gumba iwiga ; make up a
fire, isila lusasu.
Many, be, tupa ; they are
man}*, situpile.
Mark with the tribal mark,
lemba nembo (nembile).
Marry, of the man, lombela
(ndombele) ; of the woman,
lombelwa (ndombel we) ; ask
in marriage, lombesya.
Measure, linga (ndinjile).
Meet, chingangana ; see one
another, onegana ; come up
with, elringana (njingene) ;
meet with, simana ; I found
him in the house, namsime-
ne munyumba.
Melt (neut.), nyenenyenduha ;
(act.) nyenenyendusya.
Mend, panganichisya ; by
binding round, lienga (ndi-
enje) .
Milk, kama.
Mired, he, tapuka ; the ox
has stuck in the mud, ng'o-
mbe jitapwiche.
Miscarry, tungulumula ; she
miscarried, atiuigiilumwile.
Mislead, make to miss the
road, kosisya litala ; mis-
lead by lies, namanyila.
Miss, not to hit, kulusya {ngu-
Iwisye); I missed the way,
ngoaile (kosa) litala.
Mistake, liivala (ndiwele).
Mix, icanganya.
Mock, ng'andila, linga; mock
a stutterer, linga jua chi-
meme.
Molest, sakalisya.
Mould, shape, wandiJcana; go
mouldy, mala ukungu ; it
is mouldy, chimesile uku-
ngu.
Moulder away, timbuka ; it
has mouldered away, jiti-
mbwiche.
Mount, kwela (ngicesile).
Mourn, tama Xumalilo. It is
customary to watch in the
house, perhaps six days for a
wife, or a month for a hus-
band.
Move (act.), tuhwsya (nduhwi-
sye) ; like a snake or live
thing, uluTcuta (ulukwite) ;
change houses, sama (sa-
in He).
Muddy, become, or filth}-,
tapula (ndapwile).
Murder, ulaga (ulejc).
Name, tela Una, pa Una ; he
called me such a name,
andele Una.
Need, saka.
Neglect, leka.
Nod assent, jitiehila na lu-
Jcosi.
Noise, make a, (of people),
singanga, singanjika.
Notify, niauyisya.
Nourish, lisya.
Nudge, tuta (ndutile) ; touch
86
LIST OF VERBS.
to call attention, palasa
{mbalese).
Obj ect, p ing u sy a (mhing wisye) .
Obscure, tenda chipi.
Observe, lola.
Offer, tolela (ndolele) ; offer
for sale, salila, kwesya,
jesya.
Old, grow, nyahala.
Omit, lei' a.
Open, unfasten, iigida, {ugwi-
le) ; uncover, unuJcula
(nnuJcwile) ; grow larger,
Iculq ; open one's eyes in
astonisbment, tola meso.
Oppress (?), ng'andila.
Outrun, pundila {mbundile).
Overcome, pundila (?).
Oversee, stand by, jimilila.
Overtake, clilnga (njinjile).
Overturn, galausya, pitehu-
sya.
Paddle, palasya {mbalesye).
Pain, peteka.
Pardon, lechela.
Parry, jepehula (nyepekivile),
chinjila.
Pass : go by, pitangana (mhi-
tangenc) ; pass on, pelenga-
na ; go through, peleta
(mbelete) ; make to go
through, pelesya (mbelesye).
Pay, lipa (ndipile); pay to,
lipila.
Peace, make, of the parties,
chenjela (nye?ijele) ; of the
mediator, chenjelesya.
Peck, sop a (sopile).
Peel, sen da (sendile), sepa.
Peep, lingulila (ningiilile).
Pelt with, somala {somele).
Penetrate, go through, peleta ;
go into, injila.
Perspire, tioha clrituJcuta ;
make to perspire, tenda
chitukuta.
Persuade, chondelela; the evil
spirits persuaded him, mo-
soka gamcliondelele.
Pick, with a knife, sokola
{sokwele); pick up, lokota
(ndokwete); kw/ta (ngwile);
pick over, sagula {sa-
gioile).
Pierce a hole, paola {mbawele)
soma.
Pinch, tona (ndonile).
Pity, kumbuchila ; be pitiless.
halalisya.
Plait, luTca (nduchile) ; suka
(suchile).
Plant, panda {mbandile).
Plaster, mata ; finish with a
smooth coat of clay, lialia-
jisya.
Play, ng'anda; play the fool,
jijiliJca (ni/i/'/liche).
Please, nenyelcsya {nenyele-
sye); be pleased, jinicJiila ;
Please ! chonde chonde ! say
" please," chondela.
Pluck, lupula (ngupwile).
■nyochola {nyochicele); pluck
a fowl, mesa (mesile).
Plug up, sia-a (xiwile).
Plunder, sombola (sombtcele).
Poison, pa Iwasi.
LIST OF VERBS.
87
Polish, kuta (ng utile).
Possess, wanga (waiijile).
Possible, he, komboleka.
Pound, ponda (mbondile) ;
clean corn by pounding, tua
(ndicele) ; clean corn for, &c,
twesela (ndwesele).
Pour out, ita (nitile), jita
(nyitile); pour upon, &c,
jitila.
Praise, jinichila.
Pray, juga (nyusile), lomba
(ndombele).
Precede, lonjelela (nonjelele).
Pregnant, be, jigala ; become
pregnant, kola chitumbo or
chindamba.
Prepare for, icichila (to i chile).
Present to, pa (mbele); make
a present, laguehisya.
Press : hold tightly, tawisya
(ndawisye); press out, minya
(minyile); cook out oil, enga,
jenga (nyenjile).
Pretend to be, &c, linganichi-
sya mpela, Sfc.
Prick, soma (so mile).
Proceed, sejelela ; proceed
from, tioka.
Procure for (?), sosela (sosele).
Prohibit, Tcamsya (nganisye).
Pronounce, kalatnuka (nga-
lamwirhc).
Prop up, chingamisya (njinga-
misye).
Prosper, tenjela (iidenjele).
Prostrate one's self, inamisya ;
fall down before a person
and embrace his knees,
chondelelox
Protect, lindilila.
Pull: id a (utile); pull out (a
hair), tupula (ndupwile) ;
pull out (take forth), tiosya
(ndiosye); pull out (root up),
Jcula ; be pulled up, Tculiha;
the tooth is pulled out, jino
likulic/ie; pull apart, gwa-
gula.
Punish, scntsya (sawisye).
Pursue, Tcagula (ngagwile),
wing a (mbinjile).
Push : tut a (nd utile) ; push
away, tawanya {ndawanye);
give a push to, tenganya
(nde?ije?iye), tenganisya.
Put : taga (ndasile) ; wika
(mbisile); put away, wika;
(divorce) leka (ndesile) ;
winga (winjile) ; put on one
side, wika pandu pane ;
out of the way, wika paki-
siepela; put out, tiosya; (a
fire), simya (simile); (of a
house), koposya (ngopwe-
sye) ; put off, lekangasya
(ndekangesye); put on, wala
(tcisile) (icete) (?).
Puzzle, simonga (simongile).
Quarrel, jumana (nyumene).
Quench, simya.
Quiet, mialasya (mialesye) ;
quiet a child by soothing or
rocking, pembesya; become
quiet, mi alula (mi aide).
Rage, tumbala.
Rain : fall as rain, nya ; it
i a
88
LIST OF VERBS.
rained, ula jinyele ; leave
off raining, cha ; it has left
off, tda jichele.
Raise, nyamula (nyamwile).
Ram down, sopela.
Reach : arrive at, ilea (niche);
reach by stretching up,
nyanyamila; I cannot reach
it by stretching up, nga-
pa ich ila kit nya nya m ila.
Reap: rice, una (unile); by
cutting, nenyena (nenyene) ;
pull off the cobs of Indian
corn, goioola (ngowele).
Rebound, uja.
Receive, pechela ; accept,
kunda.
Recollect, kumbuchila (ngu-
mbuchile).
Reconcile, chenjelesya (njenje-
lesye).
Recover, from sickness, lama
(ndamile).
Redden, become red, chejela
(njejele).
Redeem, go mbola (ngomhwele).
Reel, tenda lusungulusungu.
Refresh, give rest, pumusya
(nibumwisye).
Refuse, kana (iigenc) ; refuse
with scorn, si I a (sile).
Rejoice, sangalala, secheiela.
Remain, stay, ta/ma ; be over,
nigala (sijede) ; be left after
eating, lepelwa.
Remedy, posya (mbosissye).
Remind, kutnb/tsya (ngumbtvi-
sye), kiunbuchisya.
Remove, tiosya.
Rend, papula (mbapwile).
Renew, put new, taga cha chi-
wisi (ndasile).
Renounce, kanila (nganile).
Repent, lipakana (ndipa-
kene).
Reproach, pakana.
Request, saka.
Resemble, lingana, landana.
Rest, pumwulila, pumula.
Restore, uja nacho.
Result from, tioka.
Retaliate, tenda ehalumo
pe.
Return, uja (usile).
Revive, lama (ndamile).
Ride, kwela ; I rode a horse,
ngtvesile mbalasi.
Ripen, jiula ; the bananas are
ripe, magombo gajiutcile.
Rise, tioka.
Roar, gunguluma ; the lion
roared, lisimba lingulwime ;
the lion says, utlrn, num.
Roast, jolcu (nyochile).
Rob, jiwila (nyiwile) ; take
by force, sombola (sombirc-
le) ; snatch away, sumula
(sumwile).
Roll, (ncut.) galambula ; the
tree rolled, mtela ugain-
mbwilc; (act.) galambusya
(ngalambwisyc).
Rot, ola; it is rotten, chio-
sile.
Round, be, wilima (-wilime) ;
spherical, icilimana (ictli-
menc).
Rub, tikita (ndikite); rub on,
kasya (mbekesye) ; rub off
the skin, pomola (mbomwe-
LIST OP VERBS.
89
le); to have the skin rubbed
off, pomoka (mbomweche).
Rumble: the stomach rumbles,
lutumbo lukutenda masti-
ng a.
Ruminate, selula ; the ox
ruminated, ng' ombe jiselwi-
le.
Run, enda luwilo pe, utuka
(utiriche) ; run away, tila
{ndisile); run away from,
unduka (undwiche) ; run
away from a master, &c,
nyenyela.
Rust, jinjila likutu ; it is
rusty, chijinjile likutu.
Salt, taga njete.
Salute, komasya (ngomasisye)
Jcomachisya.
Satisfied, be, kundila; to have
eaten enough, jikuta (nyi-
kwite) ; to have eaten too
much, lulilwa (ndulilwe).
Save, lamisya (?) pusya (?) ;
take away, tiosya.
Say, lulu (ndulile); talk or
speak, welec/ieta;not to have
a word to say, kusowa ku-
weleketa.
Scald or scorch, tinisya (ndi-
Hisye); be scaldedorscorched,
tinika (ndiniche), tvnichila
(ndinichilile).
Scare birds from corn, Under
lijuni, icinga lijuni, lindi-
lila lijuni.
Scatter, jasanga (nyasanjile),
mi sang a (misanjile) ; be
scattered, jasanjika (nya-
sanjiche).
Scold, kalipila (ngulipile),
welechetela (mbelechetele).
Scorch. See Scald.
Scorn, ng'andila; refusescorn-
fully, sila.
Scrape, pala ; scrape up, kica-
ngula.
Scratch, mwaga (mwasile).
Scream, luluta ilulu, iguta
ikuu.
Search for, sosa.
See, icona (mbwene) ; look, lo-
la (ndolitc); be within sight
of, kopochela.
Seize, kamula (ngamwile).
Sell, salila, suma •; trade, te-
nda malonda ; give to an-
other to sell, \_j~\esya {nye-
sisye).
Send, a person, tuma (ndu/iii-
le) ; send away, lekasya
(ndechesye).
Separate, gawanya (ngawe-
nye), lekanya ; lay apart,
cut up into joints, &c, kasa-
nya (ngasanye) ; separate
people when fighting, poko-
lanya.
Serve: be a servant, tumika
(ndumiche) ; a master, tu~
in ich ila ( inhi m ich He) ; serve
up food, pakula (mbakwile).
Set a trap, tega (ndesile) ; set
up, jimika (nyimiche).
Sew, iota (ndotile).
Shake, pukunya, sukunya ;
he shook his head, apukwi-
i 3
90
LIST OF VERBS.
nye mtwi ; tremble, teteme-
la ; shake about, (neut.) nyi-
kanyika.
Shame, tendela soni ; dis-
grace, tendela mchesela.
Sharpen : whet, nola (nosile).
Shave, moga (mosile) ; shave
off,kumba {ngitmbile); shave
- thehe&d.,metelela (metelele);
shave round leaving hair on
the top of the head only, si-
jilila (sijilile).
Shed., pakatika ; the tree has
shed its leaves, mtela upa-
Jcatiche masamba.
Shell, hea.ns,&o.,palasya(mba-
lesye).
Shine, milemeta.
Shiver, tetemela.
Shoot : kill with a gun, ulaga
kiva uti ; pierce with an
arrow, soma na mpamba ;
fire a gun, lumba; put forth
a shoot, sipuka (manyasi
gasipwiche).
Shorten, tenda cha chijypi, ji-
plsya (nyi]>isye).
Shout, lil a (ndisile); shout and
rejoice, wangala.
Show, point out, lanjila (na-
njile) ; make visible, losya
(iidosisye).
Shrink, nandupa (-nandivi-
jtc), pungusya, sapulanya.
Shrivel up, suinyana {•sninye-
ne).
Shrug the shoulders, ng'anda
makoyo.
Shudder, letema.
Shut, put back, vsya (usisye);
tie up, t a wa ; fasten, ugala-
sya (zigalesye); be fastened
as with a bar, vgala {-uge-
le).
Sick, be , vomit, tapika (nda-
piciche); feel nausea, wona
mselu ; make to feel sick.
tenda mselu ; be ill, hrala
{ndwasile) ; to ache in the
legs as most men do in the
first day's marches, kulwala
mkunguln .
Sift — sifting is done by
shaking and tossing in a
flat basket ; there are three
motions — 1. ku-peta. 2. ku-
senyenda. 3. ku-petnbn-
la.
Sigh, isya mtima.
Silent, be, (not to speak), mia-
lala (mialele) ; leave off
speaking, m ialasya.
Smg,jimba (nyinibile) ; begin
to sing, somola ; he has
begun a song, asomwele
Iwimbo.
Sink (neut.), tiwila (nditvile);
(act.) tiwisya (ndiirisye);
sink altogether, similila.
Sip (?), undika {undichile).
Sit, tama (ndeine) ; sit on
one's heels, tama msuuso ;
the hen is sitting, nguku
jikutamila mandanda.
Skim, wanda (wandile) ; take
up oil or fat by hiving some-
thing on it, jengula {nye-
ngwllc).
LIST OF VERBS.
91
Skin, tua (ndulle) ; take off
skin, samisya litende ; tear
off skin, gwagula.
Slander, namanila (natnanUe).
Slap, nula lipenda.
Slaughter, ulaga. It is the
custom to kill by the blow
of an axe on the back of the
neck.
Sleep, gona (ngonile) ; doze,
gwesela (ngwesele) ; sleep
with the eyes open (a fox's
sleep), gona usungula.
Sling, ponya kwa lukonje.
Slip, tialambuka (ndiala-
mbwiche), tiatia (ndiatile);
make to slip, telesya ; the
mud made him slip, matope
gamtelesisye ; become slip-
pery, kola utelesya ; the
mud is slippery, matope ga-
kwete utelesya ; slip out of
one's hand, kvlupuka {-Jeo-
lupwlche).
Smear, pakala.
Smell, (neut.) nunga (-nunji-
h) ; make to smell, nusya ;
I smell tobacco, ngupilikana
ohihwnunjila sona ; his
clothes smell of tobacco,
nguo sao sikununga sona.
Smoke, tioka Uosi ; smoke
tobacco, uuta sona.
Smooth, tepetesya (ndepete-
sisyc) ; be smooth, tepetala
(-tepetele) ; smooth out,
tenda mating a.
Smoulder, s'unilila ; the fire
smouldered a long while,
moto usimilile pakukawa.
Snap (like green wood in burn-
ingj, waliha.
Snare, teg a (ndesile).
Snatch away, somhula (so-
mbivele).
Sneeze, tenda mwisyo.
Snore, koloma (ngolweme).
Snort, shwenga (-shicenjile).
Soak, lotveka (ndoiceehe).
Sob, or sniff, susulila (susuli-
le).
Soften a skin (by pulling, &c),
uuta (uutile) ; become soft,
uutika.
Sorry, be, isya (?) ; be sorry
for (pity), nyitichila (nyiti-
chile) ; be sorry for (repent
of), lipakana.
Sow seeds, panda (mhandih).
Speak, icelecheta ; speak clear-
ly, icelecheta ichinene.
Spend, jasa (iiyasile) ; spend
quickly, misanga (misanji-
le) ; waste, lia ; he lias
spent all he had, alile ipanji
yao.
Spit, suna mata (sunile).
Splash, misila (misile).
Split, walula (mbaltvile), pa-
lawandula; split open like
wood in the sun, gala (-ga-
sile) ; split open like ripe
fruit, waliha (-waliche).
Spoil (act.), sakasya, onanga;
(neut.) sakala (-sakele).
Sprain, tiasa (/).
Spread (act.), jenesya (nycne-
si/e); (neut.) jenela (-jene-
Sprinkle, nyunyunyusya.
92
LIST OF VERBS.
Sprout, Jiula, sipuka (sijnci-
che).
Spy out, lagulila (iidagulile).
Squeeze, minya (minyile).
Squint : the eyes go on one
side, meso gajesile cha lu-
pcm.de.
Stab, soma (somite).
Stain, tenia mawala.
Stammer, he stammers, aktve-
te chimema.
Stand, jima (nyime) ; he
stands, ahuoima, or akujima.
Start, be startled, tojima (ndo-
jime).
Startle, tojimya (ndojimye).
Starve: die of hunger, vua
sal a ; he was starved to
death, an wile sal a ; he is
starving (hunger has got
him), sala jimkwete.
Stamp, with the foot, kanyata
(nganyete).
Stay, lama (ndeme) ; I shall
stay, tindame ; don't stay
very long, mkaja rntama
mno pe.
Steal, jiica (nyiwile).
Step, liwata (ndiwete).
Stick to, nyambatila (nyamba-
tile) ; stick in a hole, &c,
pachika (mbachic/ie).
Still, tamika; become still,
mialala.
Sting, hana (ndumile).
Stink, nunga iramba.
Stir, kologa/nya (ngologenyi) ;
wuga (mbvjile) ; stir toge-
ther, uga (usile) ; stir up,
unya (u/iyile).
Stoop, jiuama.
Stop : (act.), siwila ; prohibit,
kanya ; leave off, kotoka ;
stand still, ima.
Straighten,^c>/<«ya;bestraight,
goloka (-golweche).
Strain, a liquid, ng'ung'nnda
(ng'ung'undile) ; strain the
grain out of the native beer,
sungula ukana.
Stretch, golosya (ngohcesye) ;
stretch one's self out, lij»-
ngola ; stretch out the leg,
tambalika ; stretch up (to
reach something), nyanya-
mila ; stretch over (as skin
over a drum), uamba [ua-
m bile).
Strew, jasa ; he strewed,
ajasile.
Strike, menya (menyile).
String (beads, &c), tunga
(iidi/njile).
Strip off, pulula (mbulwile);
strip off bark to make rope,
tua.
Stroke, paapasa (mbaapasile).
Stumble, kuwala (nguwele).
Stunned, be, juangali
malango (he has no sense).
Suck, jo/iga (nyonjile) ; suck
out, kwemba (ngivembile).
Suckle, jonjesya.
Suffer, sauka (saiviche).
Suffice, jenela (nyenele) . There
is a past tense meaning, I,
&c, have done it once for all ;
tide, ute, ate; title, 'mte,
ate.
Suit, match, lingana.
LIST OF VERBS.
93
Suppose, chita, pel a; I should
have thought, ngachite; I
thought, napelaga.
Supplicate chondela ; he be-
sought, akamwile maJco-
ngolo [he seized (my) legs].
Surpass, punda {mbundile).
Swallow, rnila (misile).
Sway about like a drunken
man, liungaliunga.
Sweai', lumbila ; swear at,
liceselela.
Sweat, tenda chitukuta.
Sweep, piagila (inLiajisile).
Sweet, become, lieliepela.
Swell, imba (-imbile): swell up,
tupa (-titpile).
Swim, jelejela (nyelejele) ;
float, sujilila.
Swing (neut.), liunga (-liu-
njile); swing the arms, uta
mkono.
Take, tola (ndosile) ; seize,
kamula ; take down, pa-
tula (what wile) ; take off
clothes, uula (uusile) ; take
off the fire, tegula (nde-
gwile); take leave, langa,
langana.
Talk, welecheta ; he went by,
talking, pita njiucelcche-
t iii/a ; talk over much,
hj lechetesya ; talk through
the nose, welecheta mbula.
Tame (keep), langa; become
tame, siotvi lela.
Tangle, kolekanya (ngole-
kt n ye).
Tarry, kawa (ngawile), katoi-
lila.
Taste, pasya (mbasisye) ; taste
a new crop, &c., limbuka
{nimbwichc).
Teach, jiganya (nyigenye) ;
jiganisya.
Tear (act.), papula (mbapici-
le), walula; be torn. papuka
{-papioiche), tusuka {tuswi-
che).
Tease, tanda (ndandite).
Tell, Inula (nduicile).
Terrify, jogoya (nyogiceye).
Thatch, uimba (uimbile).
Thin, get, ganda {ngandile).
Think: reflect, kumbuchila ;
consider, ganisya; suppose,
chit a.
Thirst, kolwa na njota; I am
thirsty, jiin/wete njota
[thirst has got me]. I am
getting thirsty, jikungola
njota [thirst is getting me].
Threaten, a'unjcla (sienjele),
pakana (mbakene).
Thresh, kuita (nguitile).
Throw, pony a (inbonyile) ;
throw away, jasa (nyasile);
throw out sparks, tatalika.
Thunder, nguguluma (-tigugu-
licimc); it thundered at that
time, ge mow' agala ganc/u-
gulumaga njasi.
Tickle, iiychni/esya.
Tie, tau-a (ndawile).
Tighten, limbisya (ndimbisye);
be tight, liniba (-limbile),
Hiiibili la.
Tinkle, c/iimula (/), we are
94
LIST OF VERBS.
shaking our rattles, tukuchi-
inula masewe.
Tired, get, pela (mbesile); get
very tired, totoka {ndotwe-
clie) ; get utterly beaten,
menyeka.
Touch, kivaya {ngwaye), Jcwa-
yisya.
Trade, tenda malonda.
Train up, tela.
Travail, petehwa na kuwele-
Jca.
Travel, jenda mulendo.
Tread, liwata (ndiwete); tread
among brushwood, kvjola ;
tread among dry grass,
wakanya.
Treat, tenda; treat well, tenda
ukoto, or uchvnene pe ;
treat ill, tenda mwanga-
lumbana.
Tremble, tetemela.
Trumpet, inenya lipenga.
Trust in, lupalila.
Try, ling a {ninjile), tan da
(ndandite).
Turn over (act.), galambusya;
(neut.) galambuka ; turn
round (act.) ,pitikusy a (mbi-
tifcwisye); (neut.) pitikuka
{mbitikwiche).
Twist, pota (nibutile).
Uncover, unukula. {iinukwile).
Understand, many a (manyile),
manyila {many Mile) ; to be
understood, manika, mani-
Icangana ; the language
was understood, niagambu
gamanike ; which were
understood, ga gamani-
kangene ; which were not
understood, ga ngamani-
kangana.
Undress, uula nguo.
Unfold, sapangula {sapangwi-
le).
Unite, tenda cJiimpe pe, tawa
in a undo.
Unpick, sumula {sumwile).
Unthatch, uimula manyasi
{uimwile).
Untie, gopola (ngopwele).
Urge on, amila.
Urinate, tunda {ndundile),
tenda makweso.
Use up, lia (eat).
Vanish, sowa{sowile), si 'mil ila.
Vanquish, tisya {ndisisye)
[make to flee].
Vomit, tapika {ndapidie).
Wait, kaiea; wait a bit, liiida-
ni kaje,kalinde ehinandipe;
wait for, linda {nindile) ;
look for, lolela {ndolcle); I
am anxiously waiting for
him, kulinda ngumlinda.
Walk, tianga {inliiiiijih),
j'nniijiina {iiyimajiinile).
Wander, siunguld.
Want, wish for, saka ; fall
short, punguka; be without,
pila ; he wants clothing,
akupilangno; I had nothing
to eat, mbilile je iakulia.
LIST OF VERBS.
95
War, tenda ngondo.
Warm, to get, kola mtukuta ;
the water is warm, mesi ga-
kivete mtuJcuta; warm it
(let it get warm), gakole
mtukuta.
Warn, onesya.
Warp, popotoJca (-popotwecJie).
Wash, suka (sukile) ; wash
one's self, nawa ; I have
washed my hands, nawile
miala ; wash clothes, saula
(sawile) ; wash the house
walls wTith red earth, which
is used like whitewash, lia-
liajisya ; I have redwashed
my house, ndialiajisye
ny n nib a jangu.
Waste, (manga (nyonanjile).
Watch, linda, lindila ; watch
for, juicilila ; spy out, la-
giilila [nddgulile).
Water, itila mesi (nyitile),
ng'wesya; make water,
tunda {ndundile), tenda
mahweso.
Waylay, juwilila ; the lion
waylaid him, lisimba limju-
n-ililc.
Weaken, pungusya machiJi,
gandisya (-gandisisye) ; he
weak, lepetala.
Wear out (neut.) wisala; it is
worn out, iwisile sambano.
Weave, gomba; he wove cloth,
agombile likamambo.
Weep, Ida.
Weigh, ling a (ninjile).
Well, get, imuka, lama, pola.
Wet, nyowesya (nyowesye) ;
get wet, nyoica (-nyoicile),
nyowa mesi.
Whisper, songonela.
Whistle, tenda luwisi.
Whiten, whiten one's self, uka
pacliiilu ; become white,
suejela (suejele).
Will, saka.
Wipe, si id a (siulile).
Wish, chita (njite je).
Wonder, lapa (ndapile) ; be
puzzled, simonga (simo-
■ngile).
Work, tenda masango.
Worship, jitga, lomba.
Wound, tenda liwanga.
Wrap up, ilijilila; he wrapped
it up in a piece of paper,
auilijilile kica chikalata.
Wrench, popotola (mbopotwe-
le).
Wrestle, kamulana ; they
wrestled, akamulene.
Wring the neck of a fowl,
popotola nguku.
Yawn, tenda mwaju.
ADVERBS, PREPOSITIONS, CONJUNCTIONS,
AND INTERJECTIONS.
There are five particles which are in constant use in
Yao. Three of them are placed before what they
qualify, they are — mn, pa, and ku. Two are placed
after, and may be regarded as enclitics, they are pe
and ye.
1. Mn expresses wi thinness. When used with a
substantive it denotes position within what the sub-
stantive denotes, or inclusion in the idea conveyed by
it. "When used with a verb it denotes time included
in that during which the action or state continued.
It may be translated by in, within, into, out of, in
the act of, while.
2. Pa expresses atness. When used with a sub-
stantive it denotes position at or near what the sub-
stantive denotes. When used with a verb it denotes
the time at which an action occurred or a state
existed. It may be translated by at, by, near, upon,
where something' is or was, the place of, when.
3. Ku answers generally to the English word to.
It expresses motion to a place; it is the sign of the
infinitive, as to is in English ; it is also used of a
distant or indeterminate place in the sense of at. It
may be translated by to, up to, as far as, unto, at,
and until.
ADVERBS, PREPOSITIONS, CONJUNCTIONS, ETC. 97
4. -pe is very commonly added to words to define
them more exactly, especially with those that have at
all a restrictive meaning. It does not generally
require any translation ; but it gives the sense of
quite, completely, exactty, merely, or that is all.
5. -je is very frequently added, to verbs ; it seems
to give greater distinctness and immediateness to the
idea. It can seldom be translated ; but it gives the
sense of just this, just now, indeed, truly, this is what
was, or was done, &c.
A preposition connected with a verb may almost
always be expressed by a verb in the derived form in
-ila or -ela.
K
LIST OF THE SMALLER PARTS OF SPEECH.
Above, inani, clianya, penani,
pachanya kwinani.
Abroad, pasa.
According to, malinga na.
Across, obliquely, chamchipi-
ngula ; across the middle,
chisiJcatipe.
After, nyiima, panyuma, Jcu-
nyuma ; after, wben joined
witb a verb is expressed by
puna, followed by a past
tense.
Again, sooni : a second time,
leawili ; try again, lingani
sooni.
All together, wose pampepe.
Alone, jikape, pajilcape.
Aloud, liloive Via likulungwa.
Also, na, sooni.
Although, muno; though he
was beating me, amhulaga
muno.
Always : all days, mowa gose;
all years, yaka yose.
Among, %>a >' amongst them-
selves, walazvala paivale.
Anciently, ehikala, Jcatasipe.
And, na.
Annually, yaka yose, chajca
muchiJcupitila, [as a year
passes].
Apart, jumo jumo, chimo
cJiimo, 8fc, Sfc.
As : like, mpela, nipelaga, i,
iipe, ilaila,paila ; this man
does not do as his father did,
mundu aju nganalingana
yatesile atatigwe ; such as
these, ga ii, sya it, Sfc. ; as
if, patipo ; as to, nawa; as
to a house, nawa nyumba ;
as (when, while), mu-, pa-.
Aside, pachisiepe, pachisiepe-
la.
At, pa-, hu- ; at all, chilepe,
muno.
Away : not there, ngapalipo ;
not within, ngamulimo ; I
am going away, ndenda
Jcwaula.
Back, Jcunyuma.
Backwards : to walk back-
wards, kwcnda kitukuhdu ;
he fell backwards, agirilr
lugali.
Badly, mwangalumbana ; he
who acts badly will see
trouble hereafter, ju aJcute-
nda mivangalumbana tachi-
lola kusauka malawi.
LIST OP THE SMALLER PARTS OF SPEECH.
99
Before : in front of, paujopo ;
preceding, m ukulongolela.
Behind, nyuma, panyuma, ku-
nyuma.
Beside, mumbalati, mgulugu-
lu.
Better, kungulu ; I had better
go, ngupila tinyende (or
vyende).
Between, chilikati, chisikati,
pachilikati, Jcuchililcati ;
between two people, pachi-
sikati pa wandu wawili;
to go between, kwenda ku-
chisiJcati.
But, nambo.
By : of an agent, na ; of an
instrument, kwa; of a place,
pa.
Carefully, kukumbuchilaga.
Certainly, mwambone.
Complete, inuno, mbesi.
Consequently, that cause, llgo-
ngo lilalila ; for why, kwa
chichi.
Daily: day by day, liua liua ;
as days end, mowa mugaku-
malila.
Directly, sambano pano.
Down, pasi, kusi ; he has
thrown it down, alechele
pcisipe ; down in a hole,
pasi mmwisia ; down into
a hole, kusi mmwisia.
Downwards, kusi.
Early in the morning, kunda-
icipe,
Easily, chalumope.
Either — or — , ama — ama — .
Entirely, josepe.
Ere, pu- with a future tense.
Ere he vfe\\t,patije atioche.
Even, na ; he may come even
to-day, chamuno lelo kupai-
ka.
Every where, posepe, mosepe,
cheluu {?).
Except: except he be there,
akaweje ; except there be a
house, jikaiceje nyumba.
Far, kutalika, kwanaula ;
where they are going is far
off, kuakwendako kutali-
ka; where I went was far
off, kunajile kwa kutalika.
Fast, msanga, luivila, katoto.
Finally, mbesi, kwa kumala.
For this reason, ligongo li Ho-
Ho.
Forcibly, kwa machili : I was
brought by force, nyisile
kwa machili.
Forwards, paujopo ; he fell
forwards, agwile makuku ;
to lie on the stomach, kugo-
na makuku.
Frequently, mivamjinji, kata-
sipeko.
From is expressed in the verb,
or implied by the general
meaning of the sentence.
He is alienated from me,
alekene na neju.
Front, in, chambuju.
Further, mbunde.
E
100
LIST OF THE SMALLER PARTS OP SPEECH.
Gently, mbolembole, kokowa-
ga.
Good bye ! Sigalagani !
Gratis, lulele.
Hasti ly , k u h voang icii.
Heaps, in, lusungulusungu.
Here, apala, palapala, apa-
no, panopano, po.
Hereafter, malawi.
How ? TJli ? how are you ?
TJli kuimukaga? TJli mji-
m wicheje ?
If, kanga.
Immediately, sambano porno.
In, mwe, mu-, mkafi, mkati
my,-; look in the jar, tola
muchiwiga.
Indeed, truly, mwambone ;
very, muno, munope ; very
sweet indeed, kunung'a
mnope.
Indoors, muvyumba.
Inside, mkati, mu- ; has it
any thing inside ? mna clii-
ndu ?
Instead o?,pandu pa.
Into, mu-, mkati mu- ; pour
it into the water jar, mi-
mimani 'mlulii ; he put it
in the hag, atasile mumsa-
lea.
Inwardly, huoa mkati miva.
I say ! kuli !
.Inst, -je, -pr.
Just this, mumupemu.
Least, in the least, chilepe.
Lengthwise, chamchileu.
Likewise, sooni, na.
Little, a, chinandipe.
Long while, a, pakukawa.
Merely, pe.
More, kupunda (exceeding).
Near, pangulugulu ; to draw
near to, kuwandichila.
Never, gioamba.
Nevertheless, nambo.
Not, ngailio, nga; it is not
he, ngaliju ; it is not inside,
ngamulimo ; not there, ga-
napagwa, ganakugwa ; not
yet, nganali. See Verbs,
negative present, &c.
Nothing: chindu, with a ne-
gative verb : he has nothing,
angali chindu ; there is
nothing, ganakola, gailio ;
there is nothing there, cha-
ngapagiffa.
Now, sambano, lepano ; now
then! kuli ! the people of
to-day, wasambanoje.
Obliquely, chamchipinguld.
Of, -a, with a varying initial
letter. See Substantives,
p. 7.
Often, kakajinji ; how often ?
kalingwa ?
On, above, pa, parhanya ; on
purpose, melepe ; on the
LIST OF THE SMALLER PARTS OF SPEECH.
101
ba.c\i, lugali; on the stomach,
makuku ; on the side, pa-
mhalati.
Once, kampepe, Icamo.
Only, pe, jikapi ; I only,
nenepene.
Or, ama.
O ! in a solemn address, mica ;
0 chief! Mw'achimicene! O
God ! Mica Mulungu !
Over, penani pa, pachanya.
Outside, sa, pasa, pasapo,
kusa, Tcusaho ; I arrived
outside the door, naiche
kusa Mango,
Pairs, in (two by two), iwili
iwlli.
Perhaps, mpelaga.
Privately, mtemele.
Quickly, msangamsanga, mto-
to.
Really, micambone.
Scarcely, with hardness, kir<(-
kunonopa ; with sticking
and jamming, pakuli pa-
Tcanichisya.
Seldom, ngati kakajinji.
Side by side, moling a pe ; on
the side, pamhaluli ; on one
side (one-sidedly), pambali;
on this side, kwa lupande
lua lulu ; on that side, kwa
lupande lua kulakula.
So, ii, iyoyo, iipei.
Sometimes, kamokamo.
Something, eh indu.
Soon, sambano.
Such a one, such people, &c. :
such a one, alakwe, juala-
kwe ; we, such and such
people, ticalakice; you, such
and such people, micalakwe;
such and such people, tcala-
k/ce.
Thank you, nanga.
Then, nda ; then he said, nda
alulile.
There, akoko, kwekula, papo-
po, kulakula, ko.
Therefore, kwa ligongo alt no.
Therein, mica munomuno.
Thither, kunokuno.
Through : to go through, ku-
peleta ; sand-flies can get
through into any thing, ipu-
kusu ikukombula kupeh ta
mose.
Throughout, ose.
Thus, ai.
To, ku.
To-day, lelo, lepano; this very
day, lepanoje.
Together, pampepe, chalumo.
Total, ose.
Totally, mbesi.
Truly, mwambonc, mnope.
Unanimously, mtima mnope.
Unawares : when I was not
aware, pungalijc nasisimu-
kaga.
K 3
102 LIST OF THE SMALLER PARTS OF SPEECH.
Under, si, pasi, kusi ; under
the tree, kusi mtela; at the
bottom of the tree, pagi mte-
Zrt.-down in a hole, pasi mm wi-
sia; down into a hole, Jcusi
mmwisia.
Upon, penani, kuinani, pa-
ck any a.
Usually , for years, ya yaJca ;
it has been a custom from
our births to do so, chita-
ndwile chi twapagwile ku-
tendaga ii.
Well, urJiinene, mukulumha-
na; he behaved well, atesi-
le uchinenepe ; very well !
elu ! yoyopei !
What? chichi? chi?
When ? chakache?
When, po,pa. See While.
Whence ? kwapi '/
Where ? kwapi ?
Where, palipo, kuliho; where
they are going to, kuakwe-
ndako ; where I am going
to, kungwendako ; I don't
know where I am going to,
kwali kutinyende ; 1 don't
know where he is coming
from, kwali kuatioka.
Whereby? kwa chichi?
Whereby, kwa ligongo liliolio.
While, kona, pa, pu ; when 1
went, punajesilc ; while I
was going, punajendaga ;
when I shall see him, puti-
njimwona ; when he shall
see him, patachimwona ;
while he was going, paje-
ndaga ; when you were go-
ing, pamjendaga; when, or
while, in the sense of in the
act of, is expressed by mu-.
Why ? hma chichi ? mpelaga
ii ? ligongo chi ?
Willingly, kwa knsaka, kwa
mtima ; not by force but
willingly,, ngati mwa ma-
chili, mwa mtima.
With, of an instrument, hma ;
he beat me with a stick,
ambutile kwa lupichi; to-
gether with, na, pampepe
na.
With me, none (na une) ; with
thee, nogwe (na ugwe); with
him or her, naju (na aja) ;
with us, noire (na nice) ;
with you, nomwe (na uinwc);
with them, nawa {na awct).
Within, mkati, mu.
Within there, mulamula.
Without: outside, pasaj there
not being, pangali ; there
is not, pangajiaira.
Yes! Elo!
Yonder, kulakula.
YAO ENIGMAS.
1. Ndawile nyumba jangu jangali mlango.
I have built my house, it has no door.
Ans. Lindanda, an egg.
2. Lilhva Via ambuje liakuyutuka Tcatoto.
My meter's trap falls quickly.
Ans. Mgwimbi, the eyelid.
3. Najile huambusanga animuchile kuitalape.
I went to my friend, he saluted me while on the
way.
Ans. Mbwa, a dog-, because he barks as
soon as he hears a footstep.
4. Najile huambusanga akungomasya kuitalape.
I went to my friends, they saluted me on the
road.
Ans. Ny iiclti, bees.
5. Mgunda wa ambuje tupandile sugupe.
In the master's field we have planted only ground
nuts.
Ans. Nil on < I in i, stars.
6. Liwanga I'm ambuje li ngatula membe.
The master's sore which flies do not rest upon.
Ans. Motb, fire, because a hot ember is
the same colour as a sore place.
104 YAO ENIGMAS.
7. Ndawile nyumbaja ngulmigwa wanache watatupe.
I have built a great house with only three children.
Ans. Mayiga, the three stones on which
a pot is set over the fire.
S. Nijiuleje nyama yaugamanyika mlnoo.
I have killed the game, and there is nothing-
meaty as yet to be seen.
Ans. Lipuji, a tortoise.
9. Najile kuambusanga amhujile ngali mboga janget-
tumbula.
I went to my friend and he cooked me what had
not been cut open.
Ans. Mgnmbi, white ants in the flying
stage.
10. Chiajigele ambuje tiilie.
Let us eat what grandfather has carried.
Ans. Uuli, grey hair, because it looks
like flour.
11. Najile Jcuambusanga nasuuene ateme maitengo.
I went to my friends and 1 found them sitting on
stools.
Ans. Makwenda, mushrooms, on their
stalks.
12. Najile jcuambusanga pundiche kwasimana osepe,
waliji atwichile iselo, na chalume wanache
wose iselope.
I went to my friends, when I arrived they were
all met, and were carrying flat baskets, and
the children had every one a basket.
Ans. Makwenda, mushrooms.
YAO ENIGMAS. 105
13. Najile kuambusanga, Icwasimana wose ndeupe na
achakongzve awesile ncleu, ndi nausile petala
najogopaga pakumela ndeu wosepe.
I went to my friends, they were met, all of them
bearded, even the women had grown beards,
I went back on the road and was afraid at
their all growing beards.
Ans. Imanga, Indian corn, referring to
the tuft of filaments at the end of
the cob.
14. Mchilawa ngwene ngauhombola hutauna.
The crocodile's tail, it cannot be gnawed.
Ans. Litala, a road.
15. Apitako tusivianalco.
Where they pass, where we meet.
Ans. Lupondo, a g'irdle.
A YAO GRACE.
CJionde ckonde nyihute na malawi.
May it please that I have enough to-morrow also.
GIIBEUT AND EIVINGTON, POINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQFABE, LCNDON.
UCLA-Young Research Library
PL8802 .S81c
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